Total temporomandibular joint prosthesis as a surgical option for severe mouth opening restriction. A case report of a bilateral intervention.
Several conservative treatment approaches to the disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) have been described in the literature. Nonetheless, in a minority of cases not respondent to reversible conservative therapies a surgical approach to the TMJ is needed. In recent years, a total temporomandibular joint replacement with alloplastic prosthesis have been introduced as a treatment option in the presence of a severely damaged or mutilated joint, mainly resulting from severe joint diseases, as in the case of complex inflammatory-degenerative diseases, or failure of previous surgeries. The present paper described a case report of a bilateral temporomandibular joint replacement intervention in a female patient with severe mouth opening restriction and pain in the TMJ area. Also, a discussion of the potential indications for TMJ replacement has been provided, along with the description of the surgical procedure.
D000328:Adult; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome