Quality of life assessment in temporomandibular joint ankylosis patients after interpositional arthroplasty: a prospective study

A review of the use of patient reported outcome measures (PROMS) in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery accounts for a significant number of patient episodes in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and treatment effectiveness is commonly assessed using measures of pain and mouth opening. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) enable assessment of the patient's perspective and perception of the diseases and treatment outcomes. The purpose of this review was to assess the use of PROMs in TMJ surgery. A review of 3 databases (PubMed, OVID, Trip) was carried out to assess the use of PROMs when reporting on TMJ surgical interventions. Studies were limited to the English language, involving humans and at least one surgical intervention of the TMJ. A total of 214 articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, of which only 28 used 18 PROMs among them. Half of these PROMs were single-question visual analogue scales or Likert scales on quality of life and disability. The Oral Health Impact Profile and the Helkimo Clinical Dysfunction Index were the second most used (n = 3). PROMs were used most in studies on internal derangement (n = 9) and in cohort study designs (n = 26), but this was not statistically significant. In the majority of research on TMJ surgery, no PROMs are used, and when one is, there is a tendency to use weaker single-question PROMs as opposed to multi-question PROMs to assess outcomes. With the increasing importance of PROMs for assessing patients' perception of treatment outcomes, further research is needed to establish valid and reproducible PROMs for TMJ surgery.

Role of buccal fat pad to reduce the chances of re-ankylosis-A systematic review of literature

The role of buccal fat pad (BFP) as interpositional material in the temporomandibular joint ankylosis (TMJA) have been well documented. The purpose of the present systematic review is to reinforce the role of buccal fat pad as interpositional material in preventing re-ankylosis. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, Semantic scholar and Cochrane library database from 1980 to 2022 following the PRISMA guidelines. The studies using BFP as interpositional material in TMJA with more than 10 patients with atleast a follow-up of 6-months were included. All the human studies {prospective, retrospective, case reports/series (with more than 10 subjects), randomized or non-randomized trial) reporting the outcome of BFP as interpositional material were included. The present systematic review included 11 studies (prospective=7, Retrospective=3 and ambispective=1) using BFP as interpositional material. The total number of patients were 205. The number of unilateral TMJA and bilateral TMJA were 153 and 52 respectively, making a number of joint to 257. The distribution of gender was almost equal (few studies did not report the gender distribution). The minimum follow-up was 6-months and extended up to 5.3 years. Out of 205 patients, no re-ankylosis was reported in patients. The authors concluded that the BFP is nearly ideal and a preferred interpositional material to prevent re-ankylosis in temporomandibular joint ankylosis. Its vicinity to TMJ, ease of harvesting through the same surgical site and avoiding other scar makes it a preferred interpositional material in TMJA cases.

Comparative Assessment of Clinical and Quality of Life Outcomes in Mandibular Angle Fractures Treated with Standard and Three-Dimensional Mini-Plates

Aims and Objectives

To undertake a multidimensional comparative assessment of the standard and three dimensional (3D) mini-plates in managing isolated mandibular angle fractures (MAFs).

Patients and Methods

Thirty-six subjects were divided equally into two groups. Group A underwent fixation with a standard 2 mm miniplate, while group B with 2 mm 3D mini-plates. Evaluations were done preoperatively (T0), postoperatively at one week (T1), one month (T2) and three months (T3). Maximal inter-incisal mouth opening (MIO) and mean bite force (MBF) at the central incisors, right and left molars were calculated. Postoperative complications and Quality of life (QoL) outcomes were evaluated using the short form Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14).

Results

Mean operative time was almost similar for both groups. Although mean MIO improved significantly from T1 to T3 in both groups, intergroup comparison of MIO was not significant. The MBF values were significantly higher in group B on the right and left molars at T2 and T3. Although significant improvement in OHIP-14 scores was seen from T2 to T3 in both the groups, intergroup comparison of OHIP was not significant.

Conclusion

3D plates demonstrated similar clinical and QoL outcomes compared to the standard mini-plates.

Autogenous Fat as an Ideal Interpositional Material in Temporomandibular Joint Surgery

Interpositional gap arthroplasty has established itself as the the standard surgical treatment of Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis. The autogenous tissue has replaced the alloplastic and other xenografts materials owing to its bioavailability, easy uptake, and no additional cost. Commonly used autogenous tissue has been temporalis muscle and fascia, fascia lata, skin graft, auricular and costal cartilage, the masseter and/or medial pterygoid muscle. With the turn of the century, TMJ surgeons started using autogenous fat from the lower abdomen and today it has taken over as the most favored autogenous filler material in TMJ ankylosis surgery or total joint replacement (TMJ-TJR). The use of buccal fat pad (BFP) has increased in the last decade due to its local availability and pedicled nature. This paper will discuss various autogenous tissues used in interposition and bring forth the journey of the autogenous fat as the preferred interpositional material now and rest the case in its favor.

Analysis of maximum bite force and chewing efficiency in unilateral temporomandibular joint ankylosis cases treated with buccal fat pad interpositional arthroplasty

There is limited knowledge about masticatory function after the release of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis. In this study, masticatory function was evaluated by measuring maximum voluntary bite force (MVBF) and chewing efficiency in 30 unilateral TMJ ankylosis patients who were treated with buccal fat pad (BFP) interpositional arthroplasty. Eighteen subjects over 12 years of age were included in study Group A and 12 subjects below 12 years of age in study Group B. Patients in the study groups had completed a minimum follow up of one year after surgery. Control groups C (over 12 years of age, n = 18) and D (under 12 years of age, n = 12) consisted of age, sex, and weight-matched normal subjects. The mean MVBF was measured between occluding molar teeth with a strain gauge transducer. Chewing efficiency was measured with two different coloured chewing gum strips. These were chewed for 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50 strokes. Compared with normal subjects, the study groups (A and B) could generate 64.7% (p = 0.004*) and 89.8% (p = 0.121) of MVBF, respectively. Overall chewing efficiency was 88.7% in Group A and 92.9% in Group B (p = 0.014* and p = 0.138, respectively) when compared with normal subjects. The study has shown that BFP interpositional arthroplasty effectively restores masticatory function.