Examination of failed retrieved temporomandibular joint (TMJ) implants
By S. Kerwell and M. Alfaro and R. Pourzal and H.J. Lundberg and Y. Liao and C. Sukotjo and L.G. Mercuri and M.T. Mathew
Published in Acta Biomaterialia
2016
Abstract
In the management of end-stage temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), surgeons must often resort to alloplastic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) total joint replacement (TJR) to increase mandibular function and form, as well as reduce pain. Understanding wear and failure mechanisms of \TMJ\ \TJR\ implants is important to their in vivo longevity. However, compared to orthopedic \TJR\ devices, functional wear of failed \TMJ\ \TJR\ implants has not been examined. Not only do wear and corrosion influence \TJR\ implant in vivo longevity, but so does reactivity of peri-implant tissue to these two events. The aim of this study was to examine and report on the wear of retrieved, failed metal-on-metal (MoM), metal-on-polymer (MoP), and titanium-nitride coated (TiN Coated) \TMJ\ \TJR\ implant components. A total cohort of 31 \TMJ\ \TJR\ devices were studied of which 28 were failed, retrieved \TMJ\ TJRs, 3 were never implanted devices that served as controls. The mean time from implantation to removal was 7.24 years (range 3