Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis: Algorithm of Treatment

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: Temporomandibular joint ankylosis, according to age of onset, causes severe functional and morphological disorders, as well as stunted craniofacial growth and development.The primary goal of treatment is to resolve the functional and morphological disorders. METHOD: Pre- and posttreatment clinical and cephalometric registries were conducted in 15 patients with temporomandibular joint ankylosis over a 10-year period (2002-2012). All the patients underwent complete removal of the ankylotic block, gap arthroplasty, and ipsilateral coronoidectomy. Distraction osteogenesis was performed on 12 patients. RESULTS: Fifteen patients, 8 female and 7 male, ranging from 3 to 30 years of age, were included in this study. The posttreatment follow-up period ranged from 3 to 13 years.The mean preoperative maximum mouth opening was 3 ± 1.7 mm, and the mean postoperative maximum mouth opening was 36 ± 6.5 mm. The labial inclination with respect to the true horizontal decreased considerably (6.2° ± 2.3° preoperative to 1° ± 1.6° postoperative). A correction of the mandibular deviation was measured at the symphysis with respect to the facial midline (8° ± 2° preoperative to 2° postoperative). Finally, the height ratio of both mandibular rami (the healthy side and the affected side) decreased considerably (1.27 ± 0.05 preoperative to 1.07 ± 0.06 postoperative).Reankylosis only occurred in 2 patients, who were then successfully treated by means of gap arthroplasty. CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic algorithm proposed in the present work provides favorable functional and morphological results. Early and aggressive functional physiotherapy is essential to minimize the risk of reankylosis.