RESUMO
The first 25 consecutive patients with high occlusal plane angulation, dysfunction, and pain who were treated with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) total joint prostheses and simultaneous maxillomandibular counterclockwise rotation were evaluated before surgery (T1), immediately after surgery (T2), and at the longest follow-up (T3) for surgical movements and long-term stability. Subjective ratings were used for patients' facial pain/headache, TMJ pain, jaw function, diet, and disability, and objective functional changes were determined by measuring maximum incisal opening and lateral excursive movements. Results showed that the areas of greatest surgical change included an average decrease in the occlusal plane of 13.3 degrees with advancement at point B of 13.4 mm and at the genial tubercles of 16.3 mm. At longest follow-up, relapse was 0.7 degrees, 0.8 mm, and 1.2 mm, respectively, with no statistically significant changes. Significant subjective pain and dysfunction improvements were observed (P ≤ 0.001). Maximum incisal opening increased, but lateral excursion decreased. Those who had two or more previous TMJ surgeries showed greater levels of dysfunction at T1 and T3 than those who had one or no previous surgeries, but otherwise patients presented similar amounts of absolute changes. In conclusion, end-stage TMJ patients can achieve significant improvement in their pain, dysfunction, dentofacial deformity, and airway problems in one operation with TMJ reconstruction and mandibular advancement using TMJ custom-made total joint prostheses and simultaneous maxillary osteotomies for maxillomandibular counter-clockwise rotation.
