Ramus Condyle Unit Reconstruction Using Vertical Ramus Osteotomy in Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis

Introduction

Treatment of bony Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Ankylosis includes release of the ankylosis and creation of a gap with or without insertion of interposing material and complete reconstruction of the joint using e.g. costochondral, autogenous coronoid/ankylosed mass, sternoclavicular, clavicular bone grafts etc. As these are non-pedicled grafts, there is eventual resorption with subsequent decrease in height of the ramus, facial asymmetry, deviated mouth opening and reankylosis. The authors have applied the method of vertical ramus osteotomy (VRO) on the posterior border of the mandibular ramus for reconstruction of the ramus condyle unit (RCU) as a pedicled graft along with Myofascial Temporalis Interposition for the correction of TMJ Ankylosis.

Materials and methods

Ten patients of TMJ Ankylosis were included in this study. All ten patients were treated using VRO for the RCU reconstruction with posterior border of mandibular ramus after Gap Arthroplasty. Temporalis myofascial flap was used as an interpositional material in all patients. Patients were followed from 20 to 30 months (mean 24 months).

Results

As a result of successful procedure the post-operative maximal mouth opening of 32–45 mm (mean 37 mm) was achieved. No patient experienced pain and infection at surgical site. None of the patients had graft rejection and reankylosis at follow-up.

Conclusion

The results showed that VRO on the posterior border of the mandibular ramus seems to be an alternative and promising method for RCU reconstruction in patients with TMJ Ankylosis.