You have just undergone temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis (washing of your joint). This handout is designed to explain your postoperative course, limitations and what to expect.
A small bandage will be placed over your surgical site. This should remain in place for one to two days days following your surgery. A small amount of blood may be noted on the bandage. This is Normal. The bandage will be removed at your post-operative visit.
Apply antibiotic ointment to the area two times per day. It is okay to shower and shampoo starting the next day.
Keep head elevated, especially while sleeping or resting, for at least 24 hours.
You should not experience any bleeding after removing the bandage. If you do experience bleeding, apply pressure with your thumb for ten minutes. If this fails to stop the bleeding, please call the office @ (906) 225-5959 during regular office hours or have Dr. Farbod paged via MGH (906)225-9440 24 hours a day.
You can expect some bruising and swelling in the surgical site. Application of ice packs (20 minutes on and 20 minutes off at a time) for the next 24 hours is recommended, with care not to harm or freeze the skin especially while it is numb.
You will be sent home with an anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, and ear medication. It is important that you take the medications as instructed.
For two to six weeks following surgery, you diet should consist of a soft diet as chewing may disrupt the joint and can cause problems. The diet does not need to be limited to liquids, but the consistency should be that of cottage cheese, pasta, egg salad, and other soft foods that do not require heavy chewing.
You should begin careful jaw exercises on the third day following your surgery. These are stretching exercises to reduce stiffness in the joint associated with the surgery. This should be performed at least ten times per day, repeated ten times daily, for a minimum of ten days.
Careful stretching and gentle range-of-motion exercises are very important in your recovery. You should open your jaw as wide as you can and hold it in place. The first week, you should be able to open enough to get two fingers in between your upper and lower teeth.
By the second week after surgery, you should be opening wide enough to fit three fingers between your upper and lower teeth. This can be achieved by gentle stretching of the jaw with your fingers, or by using the tongue blades you were given.
It will be beneficial to schedule appointments with a physical therapist. The particular regimen for physical therapy will be discussed at your post-operative visit.
If you wore a splint before your surgery, you may place the splint back in your mouth following surgery. You may continue to wear the splint as you had before the surgery.
Avoid bending over, heavy lifting, or activities that cause increased pressure in the head region.