Hi TIA,

I understand the "Details" of your condition, mine was similiar.
The theory is, my TM Joint problems was caused or started by birth damage.
I had a couple of orthognathic procedures back in the 80's prior to MRI's and tomograms being used for diagnostics and of course these surgeries did not help.
After I had MRI's and Tomograms, in 89, my report read similiar to yours.

I had auricular (ear) cartilage disc replacements in 92. They held up about 2 years. I had been told that in the future if these failed, other autogenous grafts would be done. I managed until 97 and when I went back, they said that none of these grafts were holding up long enough to justify doing them. This included cartilage, muscle, dermal or fat grafts. 2-5 years was the "life" expectancy for any of these grafts. I had a discectomy with no replacements.

In the last few months, we've had 3 or 4 new members who have seen this Doctor and ask questions about the grafts he's doing.
I've researched everything possible and can not find any information regarding these types of grafts "Now" working or most important, lasting. (I do find some surgeons are using fat graphs with metal implants to help the body to adjust to the synthetic material. )

I find that not only my former surgeons, but the majority do not do these types of grafts anymore. They do work to start with, but they wear out.

I was under the impression that this surgery was on it's way out due to failures.
I would be interested to know if the type grafts this Doctor uses do last longer than 5 years.
I can't find any information to support this. My experience and everything I read is, they don't last.

I would never tell anyone to not have a surgery that could help them. I would suggest finding out more about this procedure and if it is one that will have to be redone. I would find out exactly what he means by a 1% failure rate. Does it mean that 1% of the intial surgeries don't work or 1% fail after several years.
I would ask how many years he expected these grafts to hold up and exact numbers on how many has to be redone in 2-5 years.

The problem I have with this is, if this is working and the grafts hold up indefinitely, "WHY" is this Doctor the only one that we're hearing about doing them. Why are discectomies without replacements becoming the surgery of choice for people with unsalvageable disc. I really believe if this procedure was the "Cure" and the end to TMJ disc problems, Surgeons everywhere would be doing it all day, every day. There are thousands of people with very bad disc problems and if these grafts truly work and hold up, this would be the answer for them. There are many gifted surgeons who can do this procedure. The surgery is not bad and recovery is quick, compared to others I've had.
I had a very well-known and excellent surgeon for my grafts. He did the procedure perfectly, I had very little post-op pain and felt great for almost 2 years. Then the grafts started to deteriorate and I was right back where I started.

There is very little doubt that deteriorated disc, displaced laterally, usually have to come out.
Also, a discectomy without replacements is not a perfect solution and it does take time to recover. But you can recover and live without disc.

It would be wonderful, even miraculous, if this procedure would be the answer for those of us with disc that cannot be repaired.
I wish we could hear from someone who had it 7 or 10 years ago and they were still doing well.

I guess deciding to have this done would depend on if you are willing to possibly have more surgeries in the future. I don't believe any surgeon will guarantee these grafts will hold up forever. I would find out what to expect in a couple of years.

If you decide to have this surgery, I do wish you the best,
Cymy Sue