Factors Influencing Treatment Plan and Post Operative Compliance in TMJ Ankylosis Patients: A Retrospective Analysis of Long Term Post Surgical Evaluation

Background and objective

Ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint is a clinical entity significant for a maxillofacial surgeon. Since time immemorial humanity is battling with this condition which is not just disfiguring the normal anatomy of the face but severely hampers the function of mastication. In this study we have tried to evaluate and correlate various factors leading to causation of ankylosis of TM Joint along with clinical manifestation and treatment planning as well as outcomes.

Study design

This is a retrospective study, records of 60 patients were selected out of which 28 patients reported for recall. Based on a predefined format, patients were evaluated and correlation was looked up on various accounts such as age of occurrence and age of reporting to the surgeon, probable etiology, sex distribution, treatment modality and postoperative outcome.

Results

The mean age of onset or occurrence was 4–7 years of age whereas age of reporting to the clinic was 16–17 years. Highest percentage of patients had trauma as an etiology (64 %) and the lowest percentage had congenital deformity (21 %). Three surgical techniques were evaluated and compared for their post surgical mouthopening, gap arthroplasty was done in 61 %, interpositional arthroplasty in 39 % and low ramus osteotomy in 21 %.

Conclusion

This study was aimed at analyzing the clinical form and function of the post surgical patient reviewing the recent radiographs to analyze the surgical site. The data collected was (1) Age of occurrence and age of reporting with the deformity (2) Etiological history (3) Sex and Side predisposition (4) Procedure used for correction of deformity (5) Recall (follow up) data especially recurrence and physiotherapy. We arrived at a conclusion that mean age of occurrence of deformity was approximately 4.7 years and age at which patient reported to clinic was 16.2 years. The main etiological factor was trauma (51 %) and ear infection (21 %). 57 % patients presented with unilateral deformity, with both the sides equally effected. The effectiveness of gap arthroplasty, interpositional arthroplasty and low ramus osteotomy procedures was evaluated. Gap arthroplasty and interpositional arthroplasty were found to be effective procedures. The importance of post operative physiotherapy was emphasised yet again through this study.