Arthroscopy of the temporomandibular joint of the rabbit.

A technique for arthroscopic examination of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of the rabbit is reported. Rabbits were selected because of the accessibility of the joint and its relative morphologic similarity to the human TMJ. The clinical findings and postoperative sequelae of the procedure are discussed. The results indicate that the technique safely and accurately demonstrates the internal anatomy of the TMJ, and suggest its future application in studies in humans.