Prospective study of five-year outcomes and postoperative complications after total temporomandibular joint replacement with two stock prosthetic systems

To evaluate and compare outcomes and complications associated with reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), we prospectively analysed the data of 70 patients who had their joints replaced with stock prostheses during the period 2004-14 and who had been followed up for five years. We used two types of stock prostheses: the metal-on-metal Christensen system (CS), and the ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene-on-metal Biomet® system (BS). Data were collected at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months postoperatively and compared with preoperative measurements. Five years after the replacement there was an increase in mean (SD) mouth opening from 2.0 (0.6) to 4.0 (0.5 cm) (p = 0.012) in the CS, and from 2.5 (1.0) cm to 4.1 (0.6) cm (p = 0.018) in the BS. The mean (SD) reductions in visual analogue pain scores were from 6.9 (1.6) to 2.0 (1.4) (p = 0.001) in the CS, and 6.5 (1.4) to 1.5 (1.1) (p = 0.001) in the BS. There were no significant differences in improvements in mouth opening or reduction in pain between the two groups. However, there were differences in the number of implants that failed, which led to removal and replacement of 2/14 prostheses in the CS group and 3/77 in the BS group (p = 0.06). The results supported the placement of stock prostheses, as evidenced by a low incidence of complications and adverse events, and a long-term improvement in function and reduction in pain in the TMJ. The BS group had significantly fewer prosthetic failures than the CS group.