Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg.  2016 Oct;38(10):39. 10.1186/s40902-016-0083-z.

The sequential management of recurrent temporomandibular joint ankylosis in a growing child: a case report

• Cho JW
• Park JH
• Kim JW
• Kim SJ

• KMID: 2359610
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40902-016-0083-z

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis in children often leads to facial deformity, functional deficit, and negative influence of the psychosocial development, which worsens with growth. The treatment of TMJ ankylosis in the pediatric patient is much more challenging than in adults because of a high incidence of recurrence and unfavorable growth of the mandible.
CASE REPORT
This is a case report describing sequential management of the left TMJ ankylosis resulted from trauma in early childhood. The multiple surgeries including a costochondral graft and gap arthroplasty using interpositional silicone block were performed, but re-ankylosis of the TMJ occurred after surgery. Alloplastic TMJ prosthesis was conducted to prevent another ankylosis, and signs or symptoms of re-ankylosis were not found. Additional reconstruction surgery was performed to compensate mandibular growth after confirming growth completion. During the first 3 years of long-term follow-up, satisfactory functional and esthetic results were observed.
CONCLUSIONS
This is to review the sequential management for the recurrent TMJ ankylosis in a growing child. Even though proper healing was expected after reconstruction of the left TMJ with costal cartilage graft, additional surgical interventions, including interpositional arthroplasty, were performed due to re-ankylosis of the affected site. In this case, alloplastic prosthesis could be an option to prevent TMJ re-ankylosis for growing pediatric patients with TMJ ankylosis in the beginning.

Keyword

TMJ ankylosis; Recurrent ankylosis; Pediatric patient TMJ ankylosis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Ankylosis*
Arthroplasty
Child*
Congenital Abnormalities
Costal Cartilage
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Incidence
Mandible
Prostheses and Implants
Recurrence
Silicon
Silicones
Temporomandibular Joint*
Transplants
Silicon
Silicones