Full-thickness skin graft interposition after temporomandibular joint ankylosis surgery. A study of 31 cases.

Recurrence is a major problem after release of temporomandibular joint ankylosis. Early physiotherapy and choice of interpositional material are important in preventing recurrence. Currently, the most used technique is gap arthroplasty associated with coronoidectomy, temporalis muscle flap interposition and reconstruction of the condylar unit with a costochondral graft. Full-thickness skin graft interposition, using the technique described by Popescu & Vasiliu, can also be used. This retrospective review of 31 patients confirms the reliability of full-thickness skin graft interposition. Results were successful in 90% of the 20 patients with follow-up longer than one year.     

Interpositional arthroplasty using autogenous costal cartilage graft for temporomandibular joint ankylosis in adults

This retrospective study evaluated 11 adult patients with TMJ ankylosis treated by interpositional arthroplasty using autogenous costal cartilage grafts between 1985 and 2003. Minimum follow-up was 2 years. Basic personal data, function of TMJ and complications of operation were recorded. Mouth opening increased during operation by a mean of 25.5mm and postoperatively by a mean of 26.2mm. The procedure failed in one case with recurrent ankylosis. The remaining 10 cases had final opening ranges in excess of 30mm. Complications included one numb lower lip. There were no instances of a facial nerve or internal maxillary artery injury. Consideration is given to the width and level of gap arthroplasty, fixation of the grafts, complications at both donor and recipient sites, postoperative physical therapy, occlusal change, and the need for coronoidectomy. This study demonstrated that autogenous costal cartilage is a suitable material for interpositional arthroplasty in adults. Complications were low. The intraoral approach and the role of postoperative physical therapy appear key elements in the success of this procedure.     

Silicon in temporomandibular joint ankylosis surgery

Temporomandibular joint ankylosis frequently occurs succeeding untreated or not adequately treated mandible fractures. Treatment of this condition with combined condylectomy and silicon sheet/block application was investigated in the literature. Thirty-eight patients with temporomandibular joint ankylosis were included in this study, and postoperative results were presented. Mean preoperative and postoperative sixth-month interincisor opening values were 5.8 and 28.8 mm, respectively. In two patients (5.2%), another operation to remove silicon material was needed because of infection and exposure of the silicon. One patient (2.6%) was operated on again for limited mouth opening. It was concluded that interpositional arthroplasty with silicon was proved to be a low-cost, easy approach with satisfactory long-term results.     

Rehabilitating children with temporomandibular joint ankylosis.

Although the probability of ankylosis following injury of the temporomandibular joint is small, patients, especially children with temporomandibular joint ankylosis, are greatly handicapped. Of the 42 cases of ankylosis seen in our clinic, six occurred in the adult, and 36 in children under 14 years of age. Treatment in all cases was surgical, and the results were beneficial, although the greatest difficulty in the treatment had been the early recurrence of ankylosis. Based on our experience, osteoarthrotomy for temporomandibular joint ankylosis in children has been advocated.     

肋骨移植治疗生长期患者单侧颞下颌关节强直合并颌骨畸形效果评价

目的 评价肋骨移植治疗生长期患者单侧颞下颌关节强直合并颌骨畸形的效果。方法 对2010年1月—2014年12月采用肋骨移植同期治疗单侧颞下颌关节强直合并颌骨畸形的生长期患者进行CT影像学分析,采用ProPlan CMF 1.4软件对术前、术后1周和随访1年以上的下颌支高度、肋骨长度和颏点偏斜程度进行测量和比较。采用SPSS 17.0软件包对数据进行配对t检验。结果 6例患者纳入研究,年龄3~7岁,平均5岁。肋骨术后平均延长下颌支高度6.2 mm,颏点偏斜平均矫正5.3 mm;术后平均随访2.7 a,肋骨平均生长6.9 mm,健侧下颌支平均生长4.4 mm,患侧4.3 mm（P>0.05）。结论 肋骨移植可以同期治疗颞下颌关节强直及合并的颌骨畸形,具有生长潜能,但是长期效果有待于进一步观察。     

A clinical study on temporomandibular joint ankylosis in children

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is a disabling condition of the masticatory system and is most commonly due to trauma, infections, and some systemic diseases. Hypomobility affects the surrounding structures as well as the joint itself. Ankylosis arising in early childhood usually leads to facial asymmetry. Ankylosis in children usually occurs from an intracapsular compression fracture or rarely from a suppurative arthritis of middle ear infection.Treatment of the ankylosis is probably one of the greatest challenges in TMJ surgery, and the treatment of TMJ ankylosis in children is much more challenging than in adults because of high recurrence and the probable change in the unpredictable growth of the mandible. In treatment of TMJ ankylosis in children, to maintain a normal growth and the development of the face is as important as to provide a satisfactory mouth opening with free movement of the mandible.A variety of techniques and various success rates in the treatment of TMJ ankylosis both in adults and in children have been reported. However, no single method has produced uniformly successful results. In this study, gap arthroplasty was applied in 6 patients, and 2 different types of fossa implants were used as interpositional material in the other 8 patients, and the results of the treatments have been evaluated retrospectively.     

The interpositional dermis-fat graft in the management of temporomandibular joint ankylosis

The aim of this retrospective clinical study is to present the clinical experience of using dermis-fat interpositional grafts in the surgical management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis in adult patients. Eleven adult patients who presented with ankylosis of the TMJ were identified and included in the study. All patients underwent a TMJ gap arthroplasty which involved the removal of a segment of bone and fibrous tissue between the glenoid fossa and neck of the mandibular condyle. The resultant gap was filled with an autogenous dermis-fat graft procured from the patient's groin. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. Five of the 11 patients were found to have osseous ankylosis while 6 patients had fibro-osseous ankylosis. Two patients had bilateral TMJ ankylosis that were also treated with costochondral grafts which were overlaid with dermis-fat graft. The average interincisal opening was 15.6 mm on presentation which improved to an average of 35.7 mm following surgery. Patients were followed up from 2 to 6 years post-operatively (mean 41.5 months) with only 1 re-ankylosis identified out of the 13 joints treated. This study found that the use of the autogenous dermis-fat interpositional graft is an effective procedure for the prevention of re-ankylosis up to 6 years following the surgical release of TMJ ankylosis.     

Random control trial of dermis-fat graft and interposition of temporalis fascia in the management of temporomandibular ankylosis in children

Temporomandibular ankylosis is a disabling condition that affects hygiene and cosmetic appearance. Several interpositional grafts such as meniscus, muscle, fascia, skin, cartilage, fat, dura, alloplastic materials and xenografts have been used to prevent recurrence of ankylosis. We studied the advantages and disadvantages of dermis fat graft as an interposition material after arthroplasty and compared it with temporalis fascia interposition. Seventeen patients with temporomandibular ankylosis involving 20 joints were randomly divided into two groups; the first group had operations for interposition of dermis-fat graft that was taken from the groin. Patients in control group had operations to interpose temporalis fascia and muscle from the same surgical site. All were assessed by age, sex, etiology, clinical features and post surgical complications. The groups were matched in age and the male: female ratio was 0.89:1.The median duration of ankylosis was 7.3 (range 2-11) years. Postoperative and follow up interincisal mouth opening was satisfactory with good healing of the dermis-fat graft donor site. We conclude that the use of dermis fat grafts has minimal donor site morbidity, and is a safe and effective interposition material to prevent the recurrence of temporomandibular ankylosis.     

Effect of auricular cartilage graft in the surgical treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis: An animal study using sheep.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the functional and histologic fate of an auricular cartilage graft used in reconstruction of an ankylosed sheep temporomandibular joint (TMJ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five sheep were used in this study. TMJ ankylosis was induced in the right joints and the left joints were used as controls. The ankylosed TMJ was released by gap arthroplasty with an interposed auricular cartilage graft at 3 months. The sheep were sacrificed at 3 months after the arthroplasty. The maximal mouth opening was measured pre- and postoperatively. The joints were evaluated radiologically and histologically. RESULTS: Maximal mouth opening was maintained after placement of an auricular graft into the gap arthroplasty. Radiographically the surfaces of the temporal bone and ramus stumps were irregular, but radiolucent gaps were formed between them. Histologically, the auricular cartilage graft was alive and well attached to the mandibular ramus stump. In all operated joints, there was joint space between the grafted cartilage and temporal bone, with the space filled with fibrous connective tissue, which was oriented parallel to the temporal surface. CONCLUSION: Auricular cartilage graft with gap arthroplasty is useful in preventing reankylosis after TMJ gap arthroplasty for ankylosis.     

Surgical treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis.

The patient must be made to understand that a normal joint cannot be constructed by any surgical procedure and his part in the rehabilitation programme must be specifically stressed and assurance must be obtained from him that he is willing to carry out instructions during the postoperative treatment. The surgeon must be self disciplined enough to demand the best of himself in any situation and never to be satisfied with less. The surgeon must be generally optimistic, but his knowledge of the local anatomy and the surgical pathology must constantly remind him of his limitations. He must know that we cannot construct a normal joint and we must not promise one.     

Comparison of different materials for interposition arthroplasty in treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis surgery: long-term follow-up in 25 cases

A variety of interposition materials have been used to prevent recurrence after arthroplasty in treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis. The purpose of this retrospective study of our experience was to compare the different materials (skin, temporal muscle, homologous cartilage) used for interposition arthroplasty over a period of 22 years. A total of 25 patients (32 joints) with at least 3 years of follow-up were included. Good results were achieved in 92% of cases using total full thickness skin graft and 83% of cases using temporal muscle flap. Homologous cartilage gave poor results.     

Overgrowth of a costochondral graft in a case of temporomandibular joint ankylosis

Ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involves fusion of the mandibular condyle to the base of the skull. When it occurs in a child, it can have devastating effects on the future growth and development of the jaws and teeth. Furthermore, in many cases, it has a profoundly negative influence on the psychosocial development of the patient because of the obvious facial deformity. Reconstruction of the mandibular condyle with costochondral grafts(CCGs) in children may result in overgrowth at the reconstructed side of the mandible. The growth pattern of the CCG is extremely unpredictable, and mandibular overgrowth on the grafted site can actually be more troublesome than the lack of growth. We report the case of a 3-year-old boy with temporomandibular ankylosis, which was treated with a CCG. The mandibular condyles and coronoid were resected unilaterally and immediately reconstructed with autogenous CCGs. He required one further resection because the grafted tissue had overgrown 5 years later.     

Navigation-guided resection of temporomandibular joint ankylosis promotes safety in skull base surgery.

PURPOSE: Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) has not been a routine part of craniomaxillofacial surgery to date. This report investigates the use of CAS to promote the safe removal of ankylosed temporomandibular joint bone in the skull base. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Out of a total pool of experience with 102 navigation-guided CAS procedures between January 1998 and December 2000, we report on 2 cases of navigation-aided resection of severe ankylosis of the mandibular condyle with a predetermined safety margin of the resection toward the middle cranial fossa, and identification of the foramen ovale. RESULT: The use of CAS with navigation resulted in the promotion of safe surgical excision of the ankylosed skull base tissue. CONCLUSIONS: We regard navigation-aided resection of an ankylosis fo the mandibular condyle as a valuable additional technique in this potentially complicated procedure.     

自体冠突移植在颞下颌关节强直关节重建术中的应用

目的：探讨自体冠突移植在颞下颌关节强直关节重建术中的应用及效果。方法：对2008年9月—2010年9月期间收治的9例颞下颌关节强直患者应用自体冠突移植关节重建术式治疗,间隙插补物采用自体关节盘或口腔生物膜,比较术前、术后开口度、咬合情况和锥形束CT检查结果。结果：术后随访12～24个月,术后最大开口度得到明显改善,咬合关系无改变,在随访期内, 所有患者无复发。锥形束CT显示,移植冠突与下颌支骨性愈合,移植的冠突顶端变圆钝,向髁突形态转变。结论：自体冠突移植关节重建术是治疗颞下颌关节强直的有效术式。