Management of unilateral temporomandibular joint ankylosis by interpositional arthroplasty and bilateral coronoidectomy

Abstract

Ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an intracapsular union of the disc-condyle complex to the temporal articular surface that restricts mandibular movement, including the fibrous adhesions or bony fusion between condyle, disc, glenoid fossa, and articular eminence. It is more commonly associated with trauma, local or systemic infection, or systemic diseases. It is a serious and disabling condition that may cause problems in facial growth, mastication, swallowing, digestion, speech, appearance, and poor oral hygiene. The severity of ankylosis is diagnosed by evaluating the degree to which mouth opening is restricted. Conventional X-rays, computed tomography scans, or magnetic resonance imaging tests determine the abnormality in the bony or soft tissue formations in the joint area. The treatment of TMJ ankylosis poses a significant challenge because of the high incidence of recurrence. In this article, we report a case of a 27-year-old adult female who presented with left TMJ ankylosis and was treated with interpositional arthroplasty and bilateral coronoidectomy.