Diagnostic Potential of the Synovial Fluid

Abstract

Introduction: Biochemical changes accompanying intracapsular pathological processes represent potential source of information exploitable in diagnostics, differential diagnostics or monitoring of temporomandibular joint disorders. Miniinvasive intervensions in the temporomandibular joint integrity with synovial fluid acces are performed in dental practice performed for drainage or therapeutic lavage and not for determination of any biochemical parameter. In addition to the invasiveness of the temporomandibular joint puncture, the synovial fluid utilization from this site for diagnostics is complicated by low volume. Aim of this work is to summarize current knowledge of histology, physiology and pathophysiology of the temporomandibular joint, to evaluate the possibilities of synovial fluid (ST) examination and to test the diagnostic potential of this fluid by means of highly sensitive fluorescence fingerprint analysis.

Keywords

• temporomandibular joint
• synovial fluid
• osteoarthrosis
• fluorescence