Surgical treatment of traumatic temporomandibular joint ankylosis with medially displaced residual condyle: surgical methods and long-term results.

PURPOSE

We report a surgical method for the treatment of traumatic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis with a medially displaced residual condyle and compare the long-term results with those obtained using different interpositional materials.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 2001 to 2009, 60 patients and 82 joints diagnosed with traumatic TMJ ankylosis with a medially displaced residual condyle were included in the present study. Lateral arthroplasty (LAP) was performed, and either the masseter muscle flap (MMF) or the temporalis myofascial flap (TMF) was used as interpositional material to fill the lateral space. The long-term results of these treatments were compared by performing postoperative computed tomography scans and clinical follow-up examinations.

RESULTS

Of the 82 joints, 22 were treated with LAP, 28 with LAP and MMF, and 32 with LAP and TMF. Of the 60 patients, 38 (48 joints) participated in long-term follow-up (from 1 to 4 yr). Of the 11 joints treated with LAP, 4 (36.4%) developed reankylosis. Of the 17 joints treated with LAP and MMF, 3 (17.6%) developed reankylosis, and none of the 20 joints treated with LAP and TMF developed reankylosis. Compared with LAP alone, LAP with TMF significantly improved the maximal incisal opening during long-term follow-up.

CONCLUSION

LAP can preserve the residual TMJ structure. The TMF is a reliable interpositional material in LAP for the prevention of reankylosis.