Autogenous grafts for reconstruction arthroplasty in temporomandibular joint ankylosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Autogenous methods for reconstruction arthroplasty (RA) for the surgical management of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) have been extensively reported. The present review was aimed to systematically review and pool data on clinical outcomes of autogenous grafts for RA in subjects with TMJ ankylosis. Major electronic databases and prominent subject-specific journals were searched up to December 2020. Randomised controlled trials (RCT), cohort studies, and retrospective studies reporting outcomes of autogenous grafts for RA in TMJ ankylosis were included. A total of 35 studies with 700 subjects was included. The most commonly employed grafts were costochondral grafts (CCG) and coronoid process grafts. Postoperative change in maximum incisor opening (MIO) was comparable amongst all grafts and was in the clinically acceptable range (27.21–31.38 mm). The recurrence rate was comparable for all grafts and was ≈ 8% except for coronoid grafts, where the recurrence rate was 2.98%. Growth assessment for CCG revealed that 55.89%, 30.89%, and 13.24% of subjects depicted optimal growth, overgrowth, and undergrowth, respectively. Within the limitations of the present review, the recurrence rate for all grafts was comparable except for coronoid graft, which depicted least recurrence rate and resultant postoperative change in MIO was in the clinically acceptable range.     

TMJ reconstruction of the intracapsular condylar vertical fracture

According to literature, it is difficult to make an early correct diagnosis and treatment of the intracapsular condylar vertical fracture. The author recently suggested a new method to diagnose and treat this kind of fracture with an optimal result. The diagnostic and treatment procedures are: 1. To take a condylo-pterygo-maxillo-oblique tomography which can clearly demonstrate the position of the bone fragment. 2. To remove the bone fragment by submandibular incision with an oblique osteotomy of the posterior part of the ramus. Therefore the secondary injury to the disk and the superior cavity could be avoided that is essential for TMJ reconstruction. 3. To reconstruct the TMJ after condyloplasty under the centric relation. Eight cases were successfully treated by this method. In this paper the details of the operation are described and discussed.     

Computer modelling and topographo-anatomic substantiation of TMJ ankylosis surgical treatment

Results of topographo-anatomic research of lateral and deep area of face with the use of three-dimensional computer modelling was presented. Application of the received data at operations of patients with ankilosis of the temporomandibular joint gave good results. It allows to draw a conclusion of possibility of this technique in a wide clinical practice.     

Computer-assisted condylar reconstruction in bilateral ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint using autogenous coronoid process

During the past 10 years, more than 20 patients a year have been treated at our centre for bilateral ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Here we describe the use of computer-assisted three-dimensional surgical planning and its clinical effects in condylar reconstruction for such patients using autogenous coronoid process. Sixteen patients with bilateral bony ankylosis of the TMJ from March 2006 to March 2009 were randomly divided into 2 groups and treated by bilateral osteoarthrectomy and condylar reconstruction by free grafting of autogenous coronoid process with and without three-dimensional simulation using Surgicase CMF™ (Materialise, Belgium) software. Clinical examination, radiographs, photographs, and details of the operation and its outcome were used postoperatively to evaluate the clinical effects of the technique. Satisfactory mouth opening was achieved in all cases. There were fewer postoperative malocclusions among patients who had three-dimensional simulation. The combination of computer-assisted three-dimensional surgical planning and simulation and free grafting of autogenous coronoid process is a sound and predictable method for the reconstruction of condyles in patients with bilateral ankylosis of the TMJ as it makes the operation easier and more accurate.     

The sequential treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis with secondary deformities by distraction osteogenesis and arthroplasty or TMJ reconstruction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sequential treatment of patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis and secondary deformities by distraction osteogenesis and subsequent arthroplasty or TMJ reconstruction. This study included 40 patients treated at a stomatological hospital in China; they ranged in age from 9 to 53 years (mean age 24.5 years). Ten of these patients were diagnosed with unilateral TMJ ankylosis and 30 with bilateral TMJ ankylosis. Twenty-seven patients also presented obstructive sleep apnoea–hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS). All patients underwent distraction osteogenesis as the initial surgery, followed by arthroplasty or TMJ reconstruction. Some patients underwent orthognathic surgery to improve occlusion and face shape along with or after arthroplasty or TMJ reconstruction. The therapeutic effects were evaluated in terms of the improvements in maximum inter-incisal opening (MIO), appearance, and respiratory function. After the completion of treatment, all patients showed improvements in MIO and appearance, and the symptom of snoring disappeared. The airway space was significantly increased. Patient follow-up ranged from 6 to 85 months (mean 28.3 months), and four patients experienced relapse. This study suggests that treating TMJ ankylosis with secondary deformities by distraction osteogenesis as the initial surgery and arthroplasty or TMJ reconstruction as the second-stage treatment may achieve favourable outcomes, especially for patients with OSAHS; however, some patients may require orthognathic surgery.     

Surgical treatment of TMJ ankylosis: our experience (60 cases)

Limitation of mouth opening can be caused by bony or fibrous ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint as sequela to trauma, infection, autoimmune disease, or failed surgery.Various procedures have been reported for treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis; this article aims to describe the diagnostic protocol and the surgical procedures adopted at the department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery of Rome University "La Sapienza".Between 1980 and 2000, 123 patients affected by TMJ ankylosis came under our observation; 60 of them (25 females and 35 males of 30 years average age) underwent surgery; bilateral TMJ ankylosis was observed in 21 cases, right-sided in 20 cases, left-sided in 19 cases. In 12 cases coronoid processes were involved. Etiopathogenesis was traumatic in 48 cases, septic in 5 cases, auto-immune (RA and seronegative spondyloarthropathies) in 5 cases; after block removing, arthroplasty was performed with pedunculated flap of temporal muscle (10 cases), Silastic material (11 cases), or lyophilized dura mater (2 cases). Simple condylar shaving was used in the remaining 36 cases.All patients under treatment showed a distinctive improvement both in articular functionality and symptoms; secondary surgery was necessary in seven cases due to the onset of articular complications from previous surgery. Silastic removal was necessary in five cases due to its inducement of foreign body granuloma. Follow-up was performed at 12, 24, and 48 months and 5 years postoperatively.In our opinion the gold standard surgery of TMJ ankylosis today is represented by shaving of articular surfaces and subsequent arthroplasty with or without temporal muscle myofascial flap interposition, whereas the use of Silastic as alloplastic material could be associated to an increased persistence of the local symptoms and a higher risk of foreign body granuloma and it may favor ankylosis relapse and hinder rehabilitation.     

人工颞下颌关节治疗关节强直的效果分析

目的 应用并评价Biomet标准型人工颞下颌关节假体治疗关节强直的效果。方法 回顾2013—2015年收治的颞下颌关节强直患者,采用计算机辅助设计和制作技术,设计并制作强直骨球切除和Biomet标准型人工颞下颌关节假体安放导板,术中应用下颌下切口取出的皮下游离脂肪移植于髁突假体周围,预防异位成骨。对于合并严重颌骨畸形的患者,采用人工关节假体延长前徙下颌支及Le Fort I型截骨术,数字化板辅助固定的方法同期矫正颌骨畸形。术后进行1年以上的临床和CT随访,评价开口度、咬合稳定性,以及假体周围有无异位成骨和假体与骨的结合情况。结果 11例患者15侧关节纳入研究,其中4例患者行下颌骨延长及颏后缩畸形纠正术。术后平均随访22.9个月（12~31个月）,无假体感染、断裂和松动。患者开口度显著改善（术前平均5.5 mm,术后31.5 mm,P<0.05）。4例患者气道显著增宽。CT显示假体固定螺钉周围无骨吸收,人工髁突头周围无异位成骨。结论 人工颞下颌关节假体是治疗关节强直,特别是复发性强直的可靠方法,可同时纠正颌骨畸形,效果稳定。     

MRI examination of the TMJ after surgical treatment of condylar fractures

The position of discs in 20 adult patients whose unilateral condylar fractures were treated by open reduction was investigated by means of magnetic resonance imaging. In four (20%) of the 20 cases, the disc was anteriorly displaced in both the closed mouth and open mouth positions. Three of the four cases had a high condylar neck fracture with dislocation and one had a high condylar neck fracture with displacement. The results of this study showed that repositioning the dislocated condyle did not always lead to anatomical restoration of the joint structures.     

Two-stage treatment of TMJ ankylosis by early surgical approach and distraction osteogenesis

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is characterized by the formation of bone or fibrous adhesion of the anatomic joint components, which replaces the normal articulation and limitation of mouth opening. Early surgical intervention is considered as a treatment procedure to release the joint ankylosis and to maintain the function of the joint. Longstanding temporomandibular joint ankylosis which starts during the active growth period in early childhood resulting in facial asymmetry. Thus, the importance of the evaluation for the facial asymmetries and unfavorable remodeling of the mandible has to be considered during the initial treatment planning. Further operations, either osteotomies or distraction osteogenesis, are required for the treatment of maxillofacial deformities. The present study reports a case of unilateral TMJ ankylosis treated by interpositional arthroplasty prior to distraction osteogenesis for the treatment of mandibular secondary deformity. Various treatment procedures and timing protocols are reviewed and discussed.     

Autogenous mandibular bone grafts and osseointegrated implants for reconstruction of the severely atrophied maxilla: a preliminary report

The purpose of this study is to present results obtained with a new procedure for reconstruction of the severely atrophied maxillary alveolar ridge that involves the use of intramembranous corticocancellous bone grafts obtained from the mandibular symphysis fixed to the residual bone by endosseous implants. A total of 107 implants were installed in grafted regions in 26 patients. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 32 months, with a mean of 16 months. In partially edentulous patients the bone grafts were fixed with implants to the residual bone as 1) onlay graft to the alveolar ridge (8 implants in 4 patients); 2) grafts to the nasal and/or sinus floor after a transoral exposure and elevation of the mucosa of the maxillary sinus and/or the nasal mucosa (33 implants in 11 patients); or 3) a combination of these two (5 implants in 2 patients). In totally edentulous patients, implants and grafts were used as a combination of grafting to both the alveolar ridge and nasal and/or sinus floor sites (61 implants in 9 patients). One hundred of 107 implants showed normal clinical and radiologic healing, whereas 7 implants in 4 patients (6.5%) were lost prior to loading. Seventeen patients have had the implants and bone grafts loaded by a prosthodontic reconstruction from 6 to 26 months (mean, 14 months) without loss of any implants. Postoperative marginal resorption of the onlay bone graft of less than 15% was observed. These findings suggest, that the previously observed rapid resorption of endochondral iliac crest onlay bone grafts and the number of lost implants can be significantly reduced if bone from the mandibular symphysis firmly anchored with titanium implants is used.     

Periodontal diagnosis: evaluation of current concepts and future needs

Periodontal diseases are multifactorial pathologies that manifest clinically by destruction of the soft and hard tissues. Bacterial insult has been implicated in the initiation of these diseases, however the degree of destruction is dependent on the host response. The host response varies from individual to individual depending on many factors including the type of the bacterial insult, the duration of the insult, the local and environmental contributing factors, immunological and inflammatory responses, predisposing genetic factors, and association with systemic diseases. The classical methods of periodontal diagnosis have been limited to clinical examination and radiographic evaluation. These methods essentially determine previous destruction, or history of disease. Evaluation of disease activity has been limited to longitudinal evaluation of these parameters, with limited accuracy, and predictors of future disease activity have not been available. The goal of new diagnostic methods is the early diagnosis of disease, before significant destruction has occurred, and measures of successful treatment or disease arrest. To this end, work has begun on genetic predictors of susceptibility which might be used to implement prevention programmes or alter treatment decisions.     

Temporomandibular joint total replacement prosthesis: current knowledge and considerations for the future

This paper provides a review of the current knowledge of temporomandibular joint total replacement systems. An electronic Medline search was performed to identify all the relevant English-language, peer-reviewed articles published during 1990-2006. Twenty-eight references were considered for review, seven of which were reviews, 17 clinical trials or case series, and four single-patient case reports. Therapeutic outcomes were encouraging for all three total prosthetic systems for which follow-up data from a consistent sample of patients exist. A lack of homogeneity between studies in patient selection and indications for the intervention was noted. A better integration between clinical and research settings is needed to achieve a standardized definition of the rationale and indications for total temporomandibular joint replacement. Findings from the available studies are promising, and need to be confirmed by multicenter trials taking into account interoperator variability.     

Analysis and correction of condylar displacement of the TMJ

Previous questioning of the validity of centric relation has been academic in nature since no alternative reproducible position is available. This article has discussed the concept of concentrically placed condyles and presented a method of analyzing and correcting condylar displacement. An articulator with condylar repositioning capabilities has also been presented.