A variety of grafting materials, joint prosthesis and the treatments used in the total reconstruction of the TMJ are many and are often contradictions regarding its indications and applications, yet they continue to evolve, and the use of TMJ prothesis is one of the types of treatment that has evolved over the past years. This study aims at evaluating the efficacy of total TMJ prosthesis, in total joint reconstructions. We performed a retrospective analysis of 10 prostheses used for rehabilitation of six patients with surgical indication for TMJ reconstruction. All patients were operated by the same team and underwent placement of the prosthesis for combined retromandibular and endaural access. The patients were followed for an average of 18 months. In the group had estimated a 1:2 ratio between men and women with a mean age of 38.6 years. Two patients developed paralysis of the frontal branch of a facial nerve and a marginal of the mandible branch, which were rehabilitated with physiotherapy, returning to normal within a maximum period of six months. All patient evolved with improvement of pain, occlusion and facial symmetry. No significant displacement or malposition of the prosthesis in postoperative, scars and aesthetic results were extremely favorable. We believe that the use of prothesis in the total joint reconstruction is extremely secure and functional results encouraging.
Conflict of interest: None declared.