UK temporomandibular joint replacement database: report on baseline data

Abstract

Our goal is to establish the long-term collection of data on temporomandibular joint replacement from all centres in the UK where this is done. Currently, 16 surgeons have been identified, and 13 of them had entered data when this paper was being prepared. Data are entered online through the Snap Survey and then analysed annually. We report on 402 patients (332 (83%) female and 70 (17%) male) who had 577 joints inserted between 1994 and 2012. The main diagnoses that resulted in total joint replacement were osteoarthritis, failed operation, ankylosis, and seronegative arthritis. Preoperatively, the median (IQR) maximal incisal opening was 20 (15–26)mm (mean 20) and the median pain scores on the visual analogue scale (VAS 0–10) were 8 for both joints. The median (IQR) baseline dietary score (liquid 0 – solid 10) was 4 (3–6). A total of 173 (43%) patients had had one or more open procedure(s) before total replacement, 177 (44%) had not had open operation, and 52 (13%) had no data entered. The 3 primary systems used were the TMJ Concepts System (Ventura, USA), the Biomet System (Biomet/Lorenz Microfixation, Jacksonville, USA), and the Christensen System (TMJ Implants, Golden, USA). The median (IQR) duration of inpatient stay was 3 (2–4) days (mean 3). Follow-up data will be collected to assess patient recorded outcome measures (PROM) and objective measurements of total joint replacements in the UK from 1994 onwards.