Intraoral endoscopically assisted treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis: preliminary report

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is characterized by the formation of a bony or fibrous mass that replaces the normal articulation. To avoid a possible re-ankylosis it is mandatory to perform a radical, complete resection of the bony/fibrous mass. We treated a patient affected by right temporomandibular joint ankylosis performing the osteotomy of the ankylotic mass through a preauricular and intraoral approach under endoscopic control. Then a temporalis muscle and fascia flap were used as the interpositional material. Through the endoscope it was easy to check the medial aspect of the resection and suture the flap. At 1-year follow-up the patient had significantly increased maximal mouth opening. No evidence of relapse of the joint ankylosis was shown by radiological studies. Intraoral endoscopic assistance may be useful to make the removal of the ankylotic mass safer, and the anchorage of the temporalis muscle and fascia flap more accurate, reducing the risk of re-ankylosis.