Temporomandibular joint ankylosis caused by otitis media in childhoods: Report of a case

ABSTRACT

The causes of temporomandiublar joint(TMJ) ankylosis are classified into trauma, systemic or local infection, and systemic diseases. Recent reports have implicated taruma as the main cause, with infection being a distant one. Local infections of surrounding structures(eg, mastoiditis and otitis media) can spread to TMJ by a direct extension or a hematogenous spread. In childhood, dense barrier of bone between the middle ear and the joint cavity may not be developed to prevent the spead of the infection. Otitis media is known to be a common complication of measles in children. Therefore children are more susceptible to TMJ ankylosis secondary to otitis media caused by measles. In the present case, the patient was 21 years old. At the age of 5 years, he had been caught by measles and accompanying otitis media. Since then, he had suffered from trismus for over 15 years. He was diagnosed as bony ankylosis of the left TMJ. We reconstructed his TMJ with 1) the resection of the condylar mass, 2) ipsilateral coronoidectemy, 3) contralateral coronoidectomy, 4) recontouring of glenoid fossa, and 5) replacement with a metal prosthesis(titanium condyle). In the choice of the graft material, we preferred metal prosthesis to autogenous costochnodral rib bone because the patient was still in the state of chronic otitis media and mastoditis. His mandibular function was improved significantly postoperatively. Unitl now he gets along without any postoperative complication.