Custom-made temporomandibular implant

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most special joints in the human body. The joint allows both rotation and translation. Problems with this joint can lead to problems in chewing and speaking. When non-surgical approaches fail to alleviate these problems and pain and functional impairment are affecting the patient’s quality of life, the TMJ needs to be replaced with a prosthetic TMJ. In this case, a custom-made TMJ prosthesis is obviously preferred over a standard TMJ prosthesis. Advantages Perfect, patient-specific fit Highly accurate placement More natural rotation and translation Pre-planned resection and drilling Low-friction interfaces Pre-planned and perfect fit The Xilloc TMJ prosthesis is developed in collaboration with the UMCG and is based on the proven principle of the Groningen temporomandibular total joint prosthesis. By starting from the CT-data of the patient, we now made this a patient-specific TMJ prosthesis. Resection of the condyle is pre-operatively planned and surgical guides are provided to perform the resection according to planning. The surgical guides also serve as drill guides to pre-drill the fixation holes in the pre-planned directions. Screw fixation is planned based on the local bone thickness and quality. To achieve a more mechanically stable fixation, locking screws are fitted. The titanium parts are designed to follow the surface of the mandible and skull and therefore provide a perfect fit on the anatomy of the patient.