Condylectomy for temporomandibular joint dysfunction. A survey of seventeen postoperative patients.

Seventeen patients were asked to make a subjective evaluation of their condition after having had a mandibular condylectomy performed. Fourteen of seventeen felt that the surgical procedure had cured their symptoms of pain and limitation of motion. Surgical procedures on the temporomandibular joint are valid when there is organic disease of the temporomandibular joint. However, care must be taken to differentiate between organic disease and the so-called myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome, since surgery is considered inappropriate for the myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome. Even in cases of organic joint disease, care must be taken to identify any existing emotional problems that the patient may have. In cases of organic joint disease with strong psychological overtones, surgical intervention alone may not be enough to relieve the patients of their temporomandibular joint symptoms.