Functional rehabilitation of ankylosed temporomandibular joints.

Successful chrome-cobalt prostheses have been used to replace the condyle and glenoid fossa in six young Macaca irus monkeys. In one group of two animals the left temporomandibular joint was replaced; in the second group the right joint and in the third group both temporomandibular joints were replaced. Neither masticatory function nor ability to open or close the mouth was affected, and all the animals remained in excellent health, living in the colony for 9 to 10 months. A similar surgical procedure was carried out for treatment of three human patients with ankylosed temporomandibular joints.