An analytic study of surgical management of the temporomandibular joint ankylosis: an experience in Bangladesh.

Abstract

The clinical observations on 14 cases of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis including age and sex incidences as well as surgical management are presented in this paper. Ankylotic TMJ arthroplasty which include condylectomy with or without interpositional materials such as auricular cartilage and temporalis muscle flap to prevent reankylosis was used as the corrective measure. The accessory procedures like costochondral grafts and saggital split osteotomy to restore ramus height accompanied by camouflaging genioplasty in some of these cases were carried out. Besides, bilateral concomitant coronoidectomy were done in all cases. The patients were divided in three groups. In four cases only condylectomy was performed; the result was poor in three cases and moderate in one case. Condylectomy accompanied by interpositioning of auricular cartilage was done in another four patients; the result was poor in one case, moderate in one case and good in 2 cases. Six subjects were treated with condylectomy along with interpositioning of temporalis muscle flap; the result was good in 5 and moderate in 1 case. Condylectomy with temporalis muscle flap appeared to be the best method for TMJ ankylosis.