No effect of neuromuscular blockade on the temporomandibular joint position during general anesthesia.

In an attempt to determine the role that nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents play in the intraoperative position of the mandibular condyle, occlusal checkbites were taken on 10 patients under general anesthesia before and after neuromuscular blockade with vecuronium. These checkbites were compared to checkbites taken preoperatively. Nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents had no effect on condylar position recordings during general anesthesia. The results demonstrate that general anesthesia itself is by far the dominant factor in intraoperative condylar position changes.