The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on total prosthetic replacement of the temporomandibular joint in August 2014.

This document replaces the previous guidance on total prosthetic replacement of the temporomandibular joint (NICE interventional procedure guidance 329, March 2009).

Description

Causes of disorders of the temporomandibular joint include inflammatory and degenerative arthritis, trauma, infection and complications of surgery. Symptoms include pain and difficulty opening the mouth, and an inability to eat a normal diet.

Conservative treatments for disorders of the temporomandibular joint include rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, bite splints and physiotherapy. Surgical options include arthroscopic surgery, remodelling of the joint surface,  removal of the intra-articular disc and replacement of components of the joint such as the disc, the fossa (socket) or the mandibular condyle.

Coding recommendations

V20.1 Total prosthetic replacement of temporomandibular joint

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)