Greater Noida, Mar 17: ShardaCare-Healthcity, a leading super-specialty hospital in Greater Noida, successfully performed a complex Total Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Replacement on 44-year-old Alice Wangui Muthoni from Nairobi, Kenya, restoring her ability to eat, speak and live without debilitating pain after nearly 17 years of severe jaw dysfunction.
Alice had been battling a severely distorted jaw function for almost two decades following complications related to a mandibular tumor. These tumors are the abnormal growths in the lower jaw that can be non-cancerous or malignant, originating from bone soft tissue, or tooth forming tissue. Over the years, the condition progressively worsened, leaving her with restricted mouth opening, difficulty in chewing and speaking, facial asymmetry, and persistent facial pain. Beyond the physical challenges, the condition also significantly affected her emotional well-being. The inability to communicate comfortably and eat normally greatly reduced her quality of life. Despite undergoing three previous surgeries, the problem remained unresolved and unfortunately resulted in damage to the lower lip nerve, further complicating her condition. Determined to find a long-term solution, Alice travelled to India seeking specialised treatment at ShardaCare–Healthcity.
At ShardaCare–Healthcity, she was treated by Dr. Rohit Punga, Director & Unit Head – Cranio Maxillofacial Surgery, who performed a Right Extended Total Temporomandibular Joint Replacement using a patient-specific implant (PSI), a highly specialised and technically demanding procedure available only at advanced maxillofacial centres worldwide. The treatment involved detailed CT scans and 3D planning are used to design a customised implant that matches the patient’s anatomy. During surgery, the diseased joint components on the right side were carefully removed and replaced with a prosthetic joint fixed to the skull base and lower jaw using titanium screws. The procedure was successfully completed, restoring the structural function of the jaw joint, relieving years of pain and stiffness, and significantly improving Alice’s jaw mobility, enabling her to chew, speak, and carry out daily activities with far greater comfort.
Dr. Rohit Punga, Director & Unit Head – Cranio Maxillofacial Surgery, ShardaCare – Healthcity, said,
“Temporomandibular joint replacement is among the rarest joint replacement procedures in medicine and is typically performed only at specialised cranio-maxillofacial centres. Each case requires meticulous planning and surgical precision, particularly when the patient has undergone multiple previous surgeries. In this case, we used a customised patient-specific implant to reconstruct the joint and restore functional jaw movement. It is also important to understand that even non-cancerous jaw tumours should not be ignored, as they can gradually enlarge, spread locally, and severely affect surrounding nerves and facial function if left untreated. Achieving facial symmetry and balanced jaw mobility after years of suffering was a key surgical goal, and we are pleased to see the patient recovering well.
Globally, only a few thousand TMJ replacement surgeries are performed each year, making it one of the least common joint replacement procedures in modern medicine. Such procedures require advanced imaging, customised implants, highly specialised surgical expertise, and multidisciplinary medical support.
Sharing her experience, Alice Wangui Muthoni said,
“My facial appearance has always been very important to me. When I thought back to how I looked at 22, I wished I could have my natural jawline again. For many years,my condition affected not only my appearance but also the function of my jaw. After undergoing the TMJ replacement, seeing my jawline restored, my facial symmetry corrected, and my joint function improving is an incredibly happy and emotional feeling. I am truly grateful to the team at ShardaCare-Healthcity and especially Dr. Rohit Punga for helping me regain my confidence and my smile. Thank you HBG Medical Assistance for connecting us to ShardaCare-Healthcity.”
Dr. Kousar Shah, CEO, ShardaCare–Healthcity, said,
“This successful surgery reflects ShardaCare’s commitment to delivering world-class healthcare supported by advanced technology and highly specialised expertise. We are proud to be a destination for complex surgeries not only for patients across India but also for international patients seeking reliable and advanced medical care.”
The successful outcome highlights the growing capabilities of ShardaCare’s Centre for Maxillofacial Surgery, which is equipped with advanced surgical technology, specialised expertise, and comprehensive critical care infrastructure to manage complex craniofacial cases.
Today, Alice is recovering well and has already experienced marked improvement in jaw function and overall comfort, offering her renewed hope for a healthier and more confident life after years of struggle.
