The compressible silicone rubber prosthesis in temporomandibular joint disease.

An alternative technique for temporomandibular joint arthroplasty is described, in which the mandibular condyle is replaced by a soft compressible silicone rubber prosthesis. A modified Nicolle-Calnan metacarpo-phalangeal joint prosthesis was used to reconstruct 31 joints in 24 patients. Results suggest that in those patients where there has been no loss of the prosthesis, function continues to be markedly improved when compared with the pre-operative condition. Painful symptoms were relieved in cases of specific joint pathology but the technique was of little value in the management of dysfunctional pain when radiographic evidence of joint pathology was absent. A specifically designed TMJ prosthesis of this type may be a useful addition to the surgeon's armamentarium.