Tumours of the TMJ

 

¨ Tumours in or around the TMJ  may be malignant or benign, local or secondary but are all relatively rare

¨ Biopsy and formal dissection may be required

¨ Tumours here as elsewhere are dealt with according to their expected behaviour and extent

 

 

Post Surgical Management

 

¨ Early mobilisation is desirable to reduce the tendency for scar tissue formation. Active physiotherapy may be helpful

¨ Soft/liquid food may be required initially as patient will have difficulty to chew and reluctance to move their jaw

¨ It is expected that the jaw movement will have recovered to its best level about 2 months after surgery

 

Complications

 

¨ Subject to the same adverse events as other surgery: bleeding, infection, scars etc.

¨ Stretch injury of branches of the facial nerve can cause weakness of orbicularis oculi or at the corner of the mouth

¨ Numbness in the distribution of the auriculotemporal nerve is common

¨ Occlusal disturbance is common, but is usually short lived

¨ Freys Syndrome (flushing and sweating of preauricular area at times of gustatory  stimulation)

 

Back to  TMJ surgery