A case of bilateral temporomandibular joint ankylosis reconstructed by mandibular reconstruction plates with condylar heads

Abstract

Temporomandibular joint （TMJ） ankylosis sometimes occurs with re-adhesion postoperatively for various reasons. In patients with re-adhesion after surgery, bony adhesion at the TMJ advances rigidly leading to poor mobility of the mandible, making it difficult to treat TMJ ankylosis. We describe a patient with bilateral TMJ ankylosis in whom reconstruction was performed with the use of mandibular reconstruction plates with condylar heads during arthroplasty.
A 56-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of severe trismus. Bilateral TMJ ankylosis was diagnosed on CT examination. We performed bilateral arthroplasty. The bone of the mandibular ramus was resected, and the mandibular body was pulled forward and downward. Subsequently, the mandible was reconstructed using plates with condylar heads. The patient is making satisfactory progress without any postoperative signs of re-ankylosis.