Tracheal intubation as a risk factor for dislocation of total joint replacement components of the temporomandibular joint: A report of two cases

Dislocation of total joint replacement (TMJR) components of the temporomandibular joint is a rarely reported complication, with an incidence of approximately 1.6%. The authors present two cases where TMJR luxation occurred in the postoperative period following unrelated surgeries performed under general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation. In both instances, the patients reported immediate changes in occlusion (malocclusion), altered mandibular mobility, and pain following these non-stomatological procedures. The authors recommend that patients with TMJR undergo a thorough assessment before elective intubation and that mechanical limitations of the prosthesis are always respected. If malocclusion occurs post-intubation, its etiology should be promptly verified and appropriate therapy provided.