[A plea for early arthroplasty of temporomandibular ankylosis in children].

The well-meaning wait-and-see policy when confronted with uni-or bilateral temporomandibular ankylosis in children is now out-of-date. An early conservative arthroplasty with temporal aponeuroplasty should be performed for several reasons. --Recent advances have increased our knowledge of the biology and development of fetal and infant temporomandibular joints. --Anaesthesia by fibroscopy during endotracheal intubation of the child with permanent jaw constriction is now a safe technique. --The developmental anatomy of the temporomandibular joints allows, employing an appropriate approach, the performance of conservative arthrolysis, associated with a local temporal aponeuroplasty in interposition, and thus avoids recurrence of ankylosis.