Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis Following Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis: A Dreadful Complication

Abstract

MDO leads to a certain amount of stress on the TMJ, and in cases with congenital TMJ deformation, such stress could lead to TMJ ankylosis. To our knowledge, 12 cases of TMJ ankylosis after MDO have been described in studies involving 309 patients while it is not reported in other publications. They were all syndromic patients. Thus, TMJ health should be carefully monitored during and after MDO to avoid TMJ ankylosis, and alternative treatments such as costochondral grafts should be considered.