Re-Contouring Interpositional Gap Arthroplasty with Ramus Height Preservation for Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis: Case Report (New Technique)

Background: Ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an intracapsular union between the mandibular condylar disc and the temporal articular surface that restricts mandibular functions. The management of TMJ ankylosis requires minimally invasive methods. Objectives: This study aims to present a new surgical method for restoring ramus height as much as possible after condylectomy of the TMJ due to ankylosis. Case Prsentation: Two patients with TMJ ankylosis participated in this investigation. Patients’ preoperative maximal mouth openings were 3 mm and 9 mm. A new method was used to separate the bony fusion between the condyle and the glenoid fossa. Then, the condylar head on the mandibular ramus was recontoured, and finally the temporalis musculofascial flap was employed as an interpositional graft. Patients were followed for six months. Both surgeries were performed at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran. Results: Both patients had an average maximal mouth opening of 35-40 mm postoperatively. Conclusion: In patients who have TMJ ankylosis   the excessive bone between the condyle and the zygomatic arch can be removed by releasing the ankylotic site followed by routine gap arthroplasty so that the ramus becomes shorter than the other side. With this method, however, the condylar head is also recontoured, thus preserving more ramus length than with other techniques; future orthognatic surgery or distraction osteogenesis (DO), if necessary, will also be easier.