The surgical correction of the bony ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint.

ABSTRACT

Bony ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an uncommon problem. Since 1997 only seven patients have been treated by the Department of Surgery, three with unilateral involvement and four with bilateral involvement. The associated deformity of the mandible is dependent on the age at the onset of disease or injury. Surgical correction is the only way of treatment, with the main objective being to resume joint movement and jaw function as well as to prevent relapse and, hopefully, restore appearance and occlusion. Surgical procedure included condylectomy with or without coronoidectomy, degloving of the masticator muscles, temporalis muscle flap interposition, costochondral grafting and granioplasty. Postoperative wound infection was found in three patients, one died of gentamicin-induced renal failure six weeks postoperatively. In the long-term follow-up, one patient developed recurrence that was successfully treated repeated surgery.