Medcare surgeon performs rare surgery to relieve patient's 10-year chronic TMJ pain

• Professor Jehad Al Sukhun, Oral Maxillofacial surgeon at Medcare Hospital diagnosed the patient with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, and performed an arthroplasty surgery to reposition the jaw joint
• Arthroplasty is a very delicate procedure, requiring high surgical skills and precision to perform

Dubai: Medcare, the premium healthcare division of Aster DM Healthcare, recently announced that it has successfully completed a rare, complex arthroplasty procedure for a patient with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. There are very few surgeons that are able to carry out these procedures as it requires a high level of surgical skills and precision to perform.

At diagnosis, the woman was complaining of chronic headaches and severe pain that were restricting her jaw movement. The pain was extremely disabling and had reached the point that it was adversely affecting her livelihood. Upon diagnosis, doctors used an MRI scan to find that discs of both the right and left joint in her jaw had been dislocated, causing serious ankylosis (or stiffening) and pain.

Professor Jehad Al Sukhun, Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon at Medcare Hospital Dubai commented, “The patient presented with temporomandibular joint disorder, which is a term that covers many different causes of pain and dysfunction of the muscles that move the jaw. Although not life-threatening, the condition was very detrimental to the patient’s quality of life as symptoms became chronic and difficult to manage”. Before coming to Medcare, the patient had seen many ENT and maxillofacial surgeons over the past 10 years, but none were able to successfully diagnose or improve her severe symptoms that were worsening by the day.

About 20% to 40% of the adult population in the United Arab Emirates is affected by TMJ disorder, to some degree, usually between 20 to 40 years of age. Causes include direct or indirect trauma or impact to the joint, or when patients exhibit habits such as teeth grinding or improper bite when there is a mismatch of the upper and lower jaws relationship. Stress often plays a major role, and recent studies indicate that 33% of patients who experience stress in their life develop TMJ disorder for one or both jaws at certain stage of their lives. Initial treatment targets the symptoms of TMJ disorder such as administering muscle relaxants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy to relax the muscles, or recommending the patient to wear a night guard. Surgery is only used in severe cases due to the associated risks and possible complications.

Due to the advanced nature of this case, Professor Jehad Al Sukhun, oral maxillofacial surgeon, carried out a very complex procedure using the latest technology at Medcare Hospital. Minimally invasive surgery via an arthroscope was performed to free both joints from any adhesion and to restore the TMJ to the correct anatomical location to allow free movement of the jaw. The arthroplasty surgery involved making a small incision to repair and reposition the joints within the jaw using the patients original tissue.

“Arthroplasty is a very delicate procedure to perform which can successfully treat TMJ dysfunction. It requires high surgical skills and precision to perform, meaning few surgeons have the technical capabilities to perform it. This case of surgery went very well with no complications; the patient enjoyed a good recovery and is able to freely move her jaw again. After many years with pain and headaches, she is now free of any discomfort and has said this surgery has positively changed her life. She is extremely satisfied with the result and I am very pleased to have successfully carried out this surgery to improve the quality of her life” said Professor Jehad Al Sukhun.

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About Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centres
Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centres (Medcare), the premium healthcare division of Aster DM Healthcare, is one of the pioneering healthcare providers in the region.

With a focus on delivering a patient-centric journey as well as encouraging clinical excellence and state-of-the-art care, Medcare operates three multi-specialty hospitals including Medcare Hospital Safa Park Dubai, Medcare Hospital Sharjah and Medcare Women and Children Hospital in Dubai and one specialty hospital Medcare Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital. In addition, it has three specialty centres and 12 multi-specialty centres in key locations across Dubai and Sharjah.

With a team of 350+ qualified healthcare professionals, Medcare promotes and supports the highest standards in preventive, curative and rehabilitative healthcare.

© Press Release 2019