Towards minimally invasive prosthetic surgery of the temporomandibular joint: design and integrated CAD–FEM preclinical approach on the mini-pig

A patient-specific, minimally invasive temporomandibular joint prosthesis was developed using an integrated workflow combining medical imaging, semi-automated CAD modeling, finite element analysis, and additive manufacturing. A minipig anatomical model was used to assess geometric feasibility and preliminary structural behavior. Three condylar component sizes were evaluated under simplified loading conditions, with additional simulations examining loading orientation. Miniaturization maintained stresses below the assumed material yield strengths, while peak stresses remained localized near the inferior bone-contacting edge. Physical fitting confirmed geometric conformity and surgical feasibility. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the feasibility of an anatomy-specific workflow for designing and manufacturing miniaturized TMJ prostheses.