A guide for temporomandibular joint surgery using a simple surgical classification - A narrative-style review.

The aim of this narrative style review is to clarify the role of TMJ surgery in the management of specific TMJ disorders by introducing a simple and practical surgical classification. A decade ago, a new surgical classification was published which, like the Wilkes classification, included the five escalating degrees of joint pathology, but with more practical definitions and proposed surgical options for each of the disease categories. The classification begins with Category 1 - painful but otherwise structurally normal joints, which are largely managed nonsurgically. Categories 2 and 3 denote reducing and nonreducing disc displacement of the TMJ, respectively, with the former treated by TMJ arthrocentesis or level 1 arthroscopy and the latter best managed with disc repositioning or discopexy. Category 4 describes degenerative changes to the disc itself, where the disc cannot be salvaged and is thus removed with TMJ discectomy. Lastly, Category 5 refers to end-stage joint disease, where none of the joint components can be salvaged; both the disc and condylar head are sacrificed, and the TMJ is reconstructed with a prosthetic total joint replacement. In the decade since its publication, various studies have served to validate the usefulness of the TMJ surgical classification, and how it can be applied to better understand the role of TMJ surgery in everyday clinical practice.

The atrophic edentulous alveolus. A preliminary study on a new generation of subperiosteal implants.

The aim of this cohort case series is to present a new subperiosteal implant device that uses CAD-CAM technologies together with 3D metal printing capabilities to produce direct bone-anchored dental prosthetic solutions for the management of atrophic edentulous alveolus and jaws. The clinical experience of 21 subperiosteal devices implanted over a 4-year period is presented. The results of this study showed 14 of the 21 cases were successful (66.7%), while 7 cases had complications including exposure of the metal frame (5 cases), mobility of the device (1 case) and 1 case failed for reasons unrelated to the device. Four of the 7 cases were successfully salvaged resulting in an overall success rate of 85.7% (18 /21 cases). This study supports the use of fully customized subperiosteal jaw implants as a simple and reliable alternative for dental rehabilitation of atrophic edentulous cases which would otherwise require bone grafts for conventional fixed dental implant solutions. With more research, the clinical potential for this device is significant as it not only avoids the need for complex and lengthy reconstructive jaw surgery but also allows for the placement of immediate prosthetic teeth at the time of implantation.

A five-year review of the OMX temporomandibular prosthetic total joint replacement system.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to undertake a 5-year review of the OMX temporomandibular prosthetic total joint replacement system (OMX-TMJ). METHODS: Data was collected from patients who had an OMX-TMJ implanted between May 2015 and November 2020 at Epworth-Freemasons and St. Vincent's hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. The data points included patient demographics, primary diagnosis, and clinical outcomes in terms of visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, maximum inter-incisal mouth opening, and complication events. RESULTS: There were 206 OMX-TMJ devices implanted in 151 patients over the 5-year study period. The vast majority were female patients (n = 137, 90.7%) with a mean age of 44.8 years (range 20-76 years) at the time of surgery. Most patients presented with primary (idiopathic) osteoarthritis (119 joints-57.8%) that failed to respond to conservative measures. Based on a mean follow-up period of 36 months (range 12 months to 73 months), the average mouth opening improved from 30.8 mm pre-surgery to an average of 39.1 mm following OMX-TMJ surgery (p < 0.05). Joint pain (VAS: 0-10) significantly improved from 6.14 pre-surgery to 0.87 following OMX-TMJ surgery (p < 0.001). Twenty-one patients (13.9%) experienced device-related complications which resulted in explantation of 7 (3.4%) OMX-TMJ devices over the 5-year period. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the OMX-TMJ prosthetic total joint replacement system is a reasonably safe, versatile, and reliable implant that effectively improves mandibular opening and reduces joint pain across a broad range of end-stage TMJ disorders.

Ewing sarcoma of the facial soft tissues-a case report.

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is an uncommon malignancy of the maxillofacial region, primarily affecting the long bones and pelvis of the paediatric population. Within the head and neck, the facial skeleton is responsible for the majority of reported cases. ES poses a challenge to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons due to its rarity and its aggressive nature. This case report is of a 35-year-old female with primary ES in the buccal soft tissues-the first reported case of its kind.

Risk Factors Associated With Poor Outcomes Following Temporomandibular Joint Discectomy and Fat Graft.

PURPOSE: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discectomy is performed for patients with degenerative joint disease with an unsalvageable disc, but with a salvageable condylar head and glenoid fossa. The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence and risk factors associated with poor postoperative outcomes following TMJ discectomy and abdominal fat grafting. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients who underwent TMJ discectomy. Included in this study were patients who had complete data sets with a minimum of 1-year follow-up. Potential risk factors included demographics, preoperative findings (mouth opening, pain levels, previous TMJ surgery), operative findings (disc degeneration, state of TMJ components), and postoperative outcomes (pain levels, mouth opening). Failed outcomes were those who had return of pain postoperatively, no improvement in mouth opening following TMJ discectomy, and/or those who progressed to TMJ total joint replacement (TJR). Statistical methods included Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression time to event analyses. RESULTS: This study included 129 patients who had undergone 132 TMJ discectomies. Most patients were female (89.9%), with a mean age of 43.2 years, standard deviation 14.2. The success rate for discectomy was 75.2% and the conversion rate of TMJ discectomy to TJR was 11.7%. A total of 32 patients (24.8%) experienced return of pain. The median time to return of pain or second surgery was 94.4 months (95% CI = 88.3 to 101.8). No risk factors were statistically significant, although mouth opening improvement of less than 10% was associated with higher risk of poor outcome (P = .77). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that lower improvement in mouth opening at 1 year following surgery is likely to result in failure of the TMJ discectomy procedure although the result was not statistically significant. This outcome may ultimately necessitate a TJR.

Accuracy of custom temporomandibular joint replacement surgery using a virtual surgical planning protocol.

BACKGROUND: Accurate placement of TMJ implant components may be facilitated by virtual surgical planning (VSP) technologies. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of a typical VSP protocol and describe the pattern of surgical error associated with total alloplastic TMJ replacement. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was undertaken on 40 adult patients who were implanted with a fully customised, 3D printed TMJ prosthesis due to end-stage TMJ disease. Planned TMJ implant position based on preoperative CBCT images was compared with final position on postoperative OPGs using a previously validated linear rescaling method. Translational discrepancy was described in the anterior-posterior direction and superior-inferior direction. Rotational discrepancy was described as anterior or posterior. RESULTS: Lin's concordance between preoperative and postoperative position was 0.97, with no significant differences (p > 0.05). The Bland-Altman analysis showed a 95% limit of agreement between planned and final position of - 5.9 to 5.4 mm. Overall, final implant position was more anterior (0.4 mm), superior (0.4 mm) and posteriorly rotated (2.4°) compared with planned position. CONCLUSION: The use of VSP in TMJ replacement surgery results in accurate implant placement with good agreement between planned and final implant position. Discrepancies in planned and final implant position tended to result in the mandibular component of the implant being translated anterior superiorly and rotated posteriorly, with potential implications for the biomechanical performance of the implant and overall device longevity. These results should be used to assist TMJ surgeons pre- and intraoperatively to facilitating accurate implant positioning and optimal surgical rehabilitation.

Accuracy of orthopantomograms in the assessment of implant position following alloplastic temporomandibular joint replacement.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of orthopantomograms (OPGs) when assessing post-operative temporomandibular joint (TMJ) implant position, compared with cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was undertaken on six adult patients who were implanted with a custom TMJ prosthesis due to end-stage TMJ disease. Post-operative CBCT was compared with post-operative OPGs. Overall magnification of each OPG was calculated and used to linearly rescale each image. Implant position was assessed by measuring the gonion angle and the distance between each surgical screw and the mandibular gonion (SG length). RESULTS: Mean magnification for OPGs was 24.2%. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the gonion angle on OPGs compared with CBCT images. There was a mean decrease in SG lengths of 0.02 mm on OPGs, corresponding to error level of 5.31%. The 95% limits of agreement between OPGs and CBCT images for SG lengths were 1.65 mm and - 1.73 mm. CONCLUSION: This study presents a clinically applicable and accurate first-line radiographic screening tool to assess TMJ implant position. When combined with clinical assessment, OPGs can help reduce the need for further imaging and radiation exposure post-operatively.

The morphology of the human mandible: A computational modelling study.

Cephalometric methods have been used to evaluate morphometric measurements of the mandible and quantify sex-related anatomical features; however, most studies to date employ a limited set of location-specific measurements without considering the entire three-dimensional anatomy of the mandible. The aims of this study were to develop statistical shape models (SSMs) of partially edentulous male and female mandibles to evaluate inter-subject morphological variability and secondly to assess the effectiveness of discrete clinical morphometric measurements in prediction of complete three-dimensional mandible geometry. Computed tomography images of forty partially edentulous female and twenty-five male subjects were obtained, and SSM developed using mesh fitting, rigid body registration and principal component analysis. Analysis of female and male SSMs showed that the variation along their first principal components was size-related. Sex-differentiating pure shape variations were found along the first principal component of size-normalised SSM and were observed to be most prominent in the symphysis and posterior ramus regions of the mandible. Seven morphometric measurements were found to characterise female and male shape prediction optimally. The capability to rapidly generate accurate patient-specific shape-predictive models of the mandible may be useful for implant development and pre-operative planning, particularly in the absence of bony structures following trauma or tumour resection.

Biomet stock temporomandibular joint prosthesis: Long-term outcomes of the use of titanium condyles secured with four or five condylar fixation screws.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the long-term outcomes following TMJ replacement using the stock Zimmer-Biomet TMJ device. In particular, investigated whether the titanium condylar implant and number of screws used to fixate it to the mandibular ramus had any impact on outcomes. METHODS: Subjects who underwent surgical implantation of a stock Zimmer-Biomet TMJ prosthesis were identified for this retrospective study. All patients received a titanium condylar component secured with four or five screws and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fossa with no metal reinforcement. Pre- and postoperative pain scores (VAS) and maximum interincisal opening (MIO) data were collected. Additional data included patient demographics, as well as operative, postoperative and follow-up details. Data were analysed with IBM SPSS 2.0 through the use of paired t-tests, and ANOVA and ANCOVA analysis. RESULTS: 190 subjects were identified. Following exclusions, the remaining study population (n = 60) consisted of 58 females and two males with a mean age of 53.5 years at time of surgery. Preoperative VAS and MIO values were 6.08 (SD = 2.24) and 31.88 mm (SD = 7.38 mm), respectively. 90% of the cohort required four screws to fix the prosthetic condylar component in place. After a median follow up of 5.2 years (95% CI: 4.73-5.62 years), with a range of 2-9 years, the VAS was 0.91 (SD = 1.89; p < 0.001) and the MIO was 34.8 mm (SD = X; p = 0.015). Only one device failed over the 9-year study period. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate good VAS and MIO outcomes following the implantation of a stock Zimmer-Biomet TMJ device. Additionally, good long-term outcomes were obtained with a titanium condylar component, fixed to the mandibular ramus with only four or five screws, and a UHMWPE fossa with no metal reinforcement.

A new three-dimensional, print-on-demand temporomandibular prosthetic total joint replacement system: Preliminary outcomes.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to present the preliminary clinical data on the OMX Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Prosthetic total joint replacement system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, cohort, clinical study was undertaken of consecutive adult patients with Category 5 end-stage joint disease who were implanted with the OMX TMJ prosthesis between May 2015 and April 2017. A total of 50 devices were implanted in 38 patients, with 12 patients receiving bilateral prosthetic joints. There were 31 females and 7 males in this cohort, who ranged in age from 20 to 66 years, with a mean of 43.8 years (±14.0 years). Ten of the 50 prosthetic joints (20%) were fully customized, while the remaining were patient matched using virtual planning software. RESULTS: Based on a mean follow-up period of 15.3 months (range 12-24 months) following the TMJ total joint replacement, preliminary results suggest the OMX TMJ prosthesis has made a positive impact on clinical outcomes, with a mean 74.4% reduction in joint pain levels and significant improvements (p < 0.05) in jaw function as measured by the visual analogue scales for mouth opening (30.8%), diet (77.1%), and function (59.2%). No device failures were reported during the study period. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the print-on-demand OMX TMJ prosthesis, designed for rapid delivery of both patient-matched and fully customize devices, represents a safe, reliable and versatile implantable joint replacement system for the treatment of category 5 end-stage TMJ disease.

Design and clinical outcome of a novel 3D-printed prosthetic joint replacement for the human temporomandibular joint.

BACKGROUND: Stock prosthetic temporomandibular joint replacements come in limited sizes, and do not always encompass the joint anatomy that presents clinically. The aims of this study were twofold. Firstly, to design a personalized prosthetic total joint replacement for the treatment of a patient's end-stage temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis, to implant the prosthesis into the patient, and assess clinical outcome 12-months post-operatively; and secondly, to evaluate the influence of changes in prosthetic condyle geometry on implant load response during mastication. METHODS: A 48-year-old female patient with Grade-5 osteoarthritis to the left temporomandibular joint was recruited, and a prosthesis developed to match the native temporomandibular joint anatomy. The prosthesis was 3D printed, sterilized and implanted into the patient, and pain and function measured 12-months post-operatively. The prosthesis load response during a chewing-bite and maximum-force bite was evaluated using a personalized multi-body musculoskeletal model. Simulations were performed after perturbing condyle thickness, neck length and head sphericity. FINDINGS: Increases in prosthetic condyle neck length malaligned the mandible and perturbed temporomandibular joint force. Changes in condylar component thickness greatly influenced fixation screw stress response, while a more eccentric condylar head increased prosthetic joint-contact loading. Post-operatively, the prosthetic temporomandibular joint surgery reduced patient pain from 7/10 to 1/10 on a visual analog scale, and increased intercisal opening distance from 22 mm to 38 mm. INTERPRETATION: This study demonstrates effectiveness of a personalized prosthesis that may ultimately be adapted to treat a wide-range of end-stage temporomandibular joint conditions, and highlights sensitivity of prosthesis load response to changes in condylar geometry.

A personalized 3D-printed prosthetic joint replacement for the human temporomandibular joint: From implant design to implantation.

Personalized prosthetic joint replacements have important applications in cases of complex bone and joint conditions where the shape and size of off-the-shelf components may not be adequate. The objective of this study was to design, test and fabricate a personalized 3D-printed prosthesis for a patient requiring total joint replacement surgery of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The new 'Melbourne' prosthetic TMJ design featured a condylar component sized specifically to the patient and fixation screw positions that avoid potential intra-operative damage to the mandibular nerve. The Melbourne prosthetic TMJ was developed for a 58-year-old female recipient with end-stage osteoarthritis of the TMJ. The load response of the prosthesis during chewing and a maximum-force bite was quantified using a personalized musculoskeletal model of the patient's masticatory system developed using medical images. The simulations were then repeated after implantation of the Biomet Microfixation prosthetic TMJ, an established stock device. The maximum condylar stresses, screw stress and mandibular stress at the screw-bone interface were lower in the Melbourne prosthetic TMJ (259.6MPa, 312.9MPa and 198.4MPa, respectively) than those in the Biomet Microfixation device (284.0MPa, 416.0MPa and 262.2MPa, respectively) during the maximum-force bite, with similar trends also observed during the chewing bite. After trialing surgical placement and evaluating prosthetic TMJ stability using cadaveric specimens, the prosthesis was fabricated using 3D printing, sterilized, and implanted into the female recipient. Six months post-operatively, the prosthesis recipient had a normal jaw opening distance (40.0 mm), with no complications identified. The new design features and immediate load response of the Melbourne prosthetic TMJ suggests that it may provide improved clinical and biomechanical joint function compared to a commonly used stock device, and reduce risk of intra-operative nerve damage during placement. The framework presented may be useful for designing and testing customized devices for the treatment of debilitating bone and joint conditions.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthroscopic lysis and lavage: Outcomes and rate of progression to open surgery.

PURPOSE: Arthroscopic lysis and lavage has been shown to be effective in the management of a variety of TMJ (Temporomandibular joint) diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the medium to long-term outcomes of TMJ arthroscopic lysis and lavage and determine factors associated with progression to open surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of a single operator series was performed over a 6-year period from 2006 to 2012. The variables of gender, age and category (Dimitroulis classification) were compared to evaluate factors associated with success of arthroscopy and progression to open surgery. The data were analysed via Kaplan Meier method for time-to event analyses and Chi-squared tests for trend analyses. Pre-operative and post-operative Visual analogue scores and maximum inter-incisal opening results were analysed with the Student's t-test. RESULTS: A total of 167 patients and 216 joints underwent arthroscopy with a mean follow up of 6.9 years. Overall 77.7% of joints had a successful result and required no further surgery. There was no gender difference with respect to progression to surgery. Males underwent open surgery after a mean of 6.2 months from arthroscopy and Females after a mean of 15.6 months from arthroscopy (p < 0.005). The highest failure rate between age groups was in the 21-30 year age group (p < 0.04). There was a statistically significant rate of progression to open surgery depending on the classification at the time of arthroscopy, with all patients with category 4 and 5 disease progressing to open surgery (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic lysis and lavage of the TMJ is a reliable and effective operation for patients with early stage (i.e., Categories 1, 2 and 3) disorders of the TMJ. Patients with more advanced joint disease (i.e., Categories 4 & 5) gained only temporary relief from TMJ arthroscopy and often progress to open TMJ surgery.

Outcomes of temporomandibular joint arthroscopy in patients with painful but otherwise normal joints.

The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to assess the clinical outcomes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthroscopy in patients who presented with category 1 normal joints. The null hypothesis being tested was that patients with normal joints do not respond to TMJ arthroscopy. The clinical records of 116 patients who had undergone TMJ arthroscopy by the author from 2010 to 2013 were retrieved and individually analysed for inclusion in this retrospective, cohort clinical study. The inclusion criteria used to select patients for this study were those who had arthroscopically proven category 1 normal joints, free of intra-articular pathology. Of the 14 patients who were found to have normal joints, only 10 could be contacted for a follow-up survey. Despite the fact that all patients were informed that no joint pathology was found, six out of the 10 patients reported improvement in their temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms that lasted for more than 6 months following TMJ arthroscopy. The results of this investigation indicate that we can reject the null hypothesis, and that patients with normal TMJs do indeed respond to TMJ arthroscopy. What this limited study has highlighted is the pervasive effects of the placebo that all surgeons need to keep in mind when formulating treatment plans for patients with TMD.

Prosthesis loading after temporomandibular joint replacement surgery: a musculoskeletal modeling study.

One of the most widely reported complications associated with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) prosthetic total joint replacement (TJR) surgery is condylar component screw loosening and instability. The objective of this study was to develop a musculoskeletal model of the human jaw to assess the influence of prosthetic condylar component orientation and screw placement on condylar component loading during mastication. A three-dimensional model of the jaw comprising the maxilla, mandible, masticatory muscles, articular cartilage, and articular disks was developed. Simulations of mastication and a maximum force bite were performed for the natural TMJ and the TMJ after prosthetic TJR surgery, including cases for mastication where the condylar component was rotated anteriorly by 0 deg, 5 deg, 10 deg, and 15 deg. Three clinically significant screw configurations were investigated: a complete, posterior, and minimal-posterior screw (MPS) configuration. Increases in condylar anterior rotation led to an increase in prosthetic condylar component contact stresses and substantial increases in condylar component screw stresses. The use of more screws in condylar fixation reduced screw stress magnitudes and maximum condylar component stresses. Screws placed superiorly experienced higher stresses than those of all other condylar fixation screws. The results of the present study have important implication for the way in which prosthetic components are placed during TMJ prosthetic TJR surgery.

Temporomandibular Joint Surgery: What Does it Mean to India in the 21st Century?

While India boasts the largest collective experience in the surgical management of TMJ ankylosis, times are changing and Indian Surgeons will need to begin thinking about other TMJ disorders that have previously gone under the radar. A growing Indian middle class with greater access to health facilities will demand treatment for TMJ disorders like myofacial pain and dysfunction, internal derangement and osteoarthrosis which Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons must be prepared to manage. The aim of this paper is to review the role of TMJ surgery and its place in the treatment armamentarium of temporomandibular disorders. Indications, rationale for surgery, risks vs benefits are discussed and complemented with examples of clinical cases treated by the author. As India moves up the economic ladder of success, TMJ disorders that have largely been confined to Western nations will begin to appear in the rising middle classes of India. Indian Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons must be prepared to recognize and manage disorders which present with more complex symptomatology where the role of TMJ surgery is less clear cut.

Macroscopic and histologic analysis of abdominal dermis-fat grafts retrieved from human temporomandibular joints.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to examine the fate of the abdominal dermis-fat grafts that were implanted into human temporomandibular joints (TMJ) at the macroscopic and histologic levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical records of 123 patients who underwent TMJ discectomy with dermis-fat grafting during a 10-year period (2000 to 2009) were reviewed, and 8 patients were identified who had had the dermis-fat graft surgically removed from their TMJ at a subsequent operation. The retrieved grafts were assessed at the macroscopic and histologic levels for size, consistency, and cellular composition. The dermis-fat grafts were retrieved after a period of 8 to 46 months (mean, 22.3) after initial implantation into the TMJ. RESULTS: The graft material was a rubbery consistency and filled the entire joint space between the condylar head and glenoid fossa/articular eminence. The average size of the retrieved grafts was 16 mm × 14 mm × 7 mm, with a mean volumetric dimension of 1.57 ± 0.38 cm(3). The interpositional tissue retrieved from all joints demonstrated clear histologic evidence of mature adipose tissue interspersed with dermal elements such as sweat glands and hair follicles that were atrophied. The ratio of fat/nonfat tissue was significantly (P < .01) less (mean, 31.3% ± 5.7%) than in the original (mean, 90.2% ± 6.3%) graft. No evidence was found of dermoid cysts or necrotic fat in any of the specimens examined. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that abdominal dermis-fat grafts transplanted to the TMJ do thrive and adapt well to the confines of the joint cavity, allowing functional movement of the joint. However, in the present study, the dermis-fat graft failed to protect the condyle against additional deterioration in 6.5% of patients who went on to have total joint replacements.

Condylar morphology after temporomandibular joint discectomy with interpositional abdominal dermis-fat graft.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to look at the morphology of the condylar head after temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discectomy with interpositional abdominal dermis-fat grafts by using the orthopantograph (OPG) as the basis for investigation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study involved 28 patients (1 male patient) who had undergone TMJ discectomy with an interpositional abdominal dermis-fat graft for the management of severe internal derangement. The age range of the patients was 15 to 68 years, with a mean age of 51.5 years at the time of their TMJ surgery. A total of 33 operated joints were examined, including 5 cases of bilateral TMJ discectomy with dermis-fat grafts. Sixteen joints underwent additional surgery to the condylar head, whereas the remaining 17 joints had no condylar surgery. OPG radiographs were taken from 12 months up to 7 years after surgery, with a mean follow-up period of 32 months. The condyles of the operated joints were visually assessed on OPG and graded according to the condylar morphology scale (CMS), where 0 indicates normal, 1 indicates remodeling, and 2 indicates resorption of the condylar head. RESULTS: By use of the CMS grading system, 9 of 33 joints (27.3%) were found to be normal (CMS = 0). Remodeling (CMS = 1) was found in 14 joints (42.4%) after TMJ discectomy with dermis-fat graft. Radiologic evidence of resorption was present in 10 joints (30.3%) with a CMS score of 2. Remodeling (CMS = 1) was found in 3 joints (17.6%) where no condylar surgery was performed compared with 11 joints (68.8%) where condylar surgery was undertaken. Resorption (CMS = 2) was measured in equal numbers of 5 joints in each group regardless of whether condylar surgery was undertaken (31.2%) or not (29.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that in cases where additional condylar surgery was undertaken, over two thirds of the joints (68.8%) showed evidence of remodeling on postoperative OPGs. The interpositional dermis-fat graft failed to prevent significant condylar changes (CMS = 2) in about one third of patients who underwent TMJ discectomy, with the youngest (mean, 30.2 years) and the oldest (mean, 55.6 years) patients being most susceptible to condylar resorption.

Quality-of-life survey comparing patients before and after discectomy of the temporomandibular joint.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes of patients who had undergone temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discectomy with dermis-fat grafting compared with a cohort of closely matched patients who had not had surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 61 patients was undertaken. All patients completed a TMJ surgery-specific QoL questionnaire. They were divided into 2 groups according to whether they had undergone TMJ discectomy (postsurgical group, n = 32) or not (presurgical group, n = 29). The 2 groups were closely matched for age, gender, clinical presentation, and radiologic diagnoses of Wilkes stage IV TMJ internal derangement. RESULTS: Post-TMJ surgery patients showed statistically significant decreases in pain levels (P < .05), diet and chewing (P < .01), mood (P < .01), anxiety (P < .01), and general health (P < .05) compared with the presurgical patients. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-TMJ surgery groups in terms of speech, level of activity, recreation, and general well-being. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that TMJ discectomy with dermis-fat grafting appears to have a positive QoL effect in terms of reducing pain levels and improving diet and chewing, mood, anxiety, and general health in patients with Wilkes stage IV TMJ internal derangement.