Ankylosis management with autogenous grafts: A systematic review

Evolution of temporomandibular joint reconstruction: from autologous tissue transplantation to alloplastic joint replacement

The reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint presents a multifaceted clinical challenge in the realm of head and neck surgery, underscored by its relatively infrequent occurrence and the lack of comprehensive clinical guidelines. This review aims to elucidate the available approaches for TMJ reconstruction, with a particular emphasis on recent groundbreaking advancements. The current spectrum of TMJ reconstruction integrates diverse surgical techniques, such as costochondral grafting, coronoid process grafting, revascularized fibula transfer, transport distraction osteogenesis, and alloplastic TMJ replacement. Despite the available options, a singular, universally accepted 'gold standard' for reconstructive techniques or materials remains elusive in this field. Our review comprehensively summarizes the current available methods of TMJ reconstruction, focusing on both autologous and alloplastic prostheses. It delves into the differences of each surgical technique and outlines the implications of recent technological advances, such as 3D printing, which hold the promise of enhancing surgical precision and patient outcomes. This evolutionary progress aims not only to improve the immediate results of reconstruction but also to ensure the long-term health and functionality of the TMJ, thereby improving the quality of life for patients with end-stage TMJ disorders.

Evaluation of temporal fascia and dermal fat graft for temporomandibular joint ankylosis

The crippling disorder known as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is caused by the fusing of the mandibular condyle to the base of the skull, which results in limited mouth opening and severe functional impairment. In order to stop re-ankylosis, surgical care is essential and several interpositional materials have been tried. The therapy of TMJ ankylosis is compared in this research between dermal fat grafts and temporal fascia. Thirty patients with TMJ ankylosis in total were split into two groups at random. A temporal fascia graft was administered to Group A (n = 15), while a dermal fat transplant was administered to Group B (n = 15). The three main outcomes that were evaluated were the incidence of re-ankylosis, pain thresholds, and postoperative mouth opening. A Vernier caliper was used to measure the mouth openness, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to gauge discomfort. One, three, and six months after surgery were the follow-up times. According to the research, dermal fat grafts may be a better option for treating TMJ ankylosis than temporal fascia grafts since them result in improved postoperative mouth opening, less discomfort, and a decreased chance of re-ankylosis. Both materials work well, however, and the patient's specific circumstances may influence the graft selection.

A systematic review of the clinical outcomes for various orthodontic and physiotherapy appliances used for the management of temporomandibular joint ankylosis

Ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is associated with restricted mandibular movements, with deviation to the affected side. The management of TMJ ankylosis involves surgery to mitigate the effects of ankylosis, and adjunctive appliance therapy to supplement the results achieved through surgery. Several appliances have been used to help maintain jaw mobility postsurgery, but have been rarely documented in the literature. Our systematic review aimed to examine the clinical outcomes of various appliances for TMJ ankylosis management. A comprehensive electronic search of the literature was performed in July 2022 to identify eligible articles that had tested the use of orthodontic or physiotherapy appliances for the management of TMJ ankylosis. In total, 13 publications were included in the narrative synthesis. Both generic and custom-made appliances were used, with overall findings suggesting that using these appliances improved mouth opening and reduced chances of re-ankylosis. In this review no universally accepted appliance was found to be utilized, and the criteria used for appliance selection were unclear. The field of research in developing appliances for the treatment of TMJ ankylosis is open to advancement, and this review will help guide future research in this area.

Can growing patients with end-stage TMJ pathology be successfully treated with alloplastic temporomandibular joint reconstruction? - A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

The use of alloplastic total temporomandibular joint reconstruction (TMJR) in growing patients is controversial, mainly due to immature elements of the craniomaxillofacial skeleton. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the use of alloplastic TMJR in growing patients, focusing on the patient's clinical presentation, surgical and medical history and efficacy of alloplastic TMJR implantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The literature search strategy was based on the Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes and Study type (PICOS) framework. We searched Pubmed, Google Scholar, Dimension, Web of Science, X-mol, Semantic Scholar and Embase to January 2023, without any restriction on the type of publication reporting alloplastic TMJR in growing patients (age ≤ 18 years for boys and age ≤ 15 years for girls).

RESULTS

A total of 15 studies (case reports: 09, case series: 02, cohort studies: 04) met the inclusion criteria, documenting 73 patients of growing age from 07 countries. Thirty-eight (~ 52%) cases were female. The mean ± SD (range) age and follow-up of patients in all studies was 13.1 ± 3.2 (0-17) years and 34.3 ± 21.5 (7-96) months, respectively. A total of 22 (30%) patients were implanted with bilateral alloplastic TMJR. Over half of the studies (n = 10) were published in the last 3 years. All patients underwent multiple surgeries prior to implantation of alloplastic TMJR. In extreme cases, patients underwent a total of 17 surgeries. Different types of studies reporting inconsistent variables restricted our ability to perform quality assessment measures for evidence building.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical experience with alloplastic TMJR in growing patients is limited to cases showing poor prognosis with other types of reconstruction. Nevertheless, studies show promising results for the use of alloplastic TMJR in growing patients, highlighting the need for well-controlled prospective studies with long-term follow-up.

Analysis of the effect on costochondral graft for TMJ ankylosis with jaw deformities in pediatrics

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effects of costochondral grafting (CCG) used for temporomandibular joint ankylosis (TMJA) in growing patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pediatric patients with TMJA treated by CCG from 2010.5 to 2021.7 were included in the study. CT scans were performed before and after operations with at least 1 year follow-up. The height of the mandibular ramus, menton deviation or retraction, osteotomy gap, etc. were measured by ProPlan CMF1.4 software. CCG growth, resorption, and relapse were evaluated and analyzed with influencing factors such as age, ostectomy gap, etc. by generalized estimating equation.

RESULTS

There were 24 patients (29 joints) with an average age of 6.30 ± 3.13 years in the study. After operation, the mandibular ramus was elongated by 5.97 ± 3.53 mm. Mandibular deviation or retrusion was corrected by 4.82 ± 2.84 mm and 3.76 ± 2.97 mm respectively. After a mean follow-up of 38.91 ± 29.20 months, 58.62% CCG grew (4.18 ± 7.70 mm), 20.69% absorbed (2.23 ± 1.16 mm), and 20.69% re-ankylosed. The re-ankylosis was negatively correlated with the osteotomy gap (OR:0.348,0.172-0.702 95%CI, critical value = 6.10 mm). CCG resorption was positively correlated with the distance of CCG ramus elongation (OR:3.353,1.173-9.586 95%CI, critical value = 7.40 mm).

CONCLUSIONS

An adequate osteotomy gap and CCG ramus elongation distance are the key factors for successful treatment of TMJA with jaw deformities in growing patients.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

TMJA affects mouth opening and jaw development in pediatric patients. The most common autogenous bone graft for pediatric patients is CCG due to its growth potential, convenient access and easy contouring. Also, it can simultaneously reconstruct the TMJ and improve jaw deformity by lengthening the mandibular ramus. But the growth of CCG is unpredictable. In this study, we explored several factors that may affect the absorption and re-ankylosis of CCG, expecting to provide several suggestions to improve future CCG treatment.

TMJ Ankylosis in Children: A Case Report and Literature Review

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is a serious disabling condition characterized by fusion of the mandibular condyle with the glenoid fossa, disc, and/or eminence, resulting in severely restricted mouth opening and significantly reduced mandibular movements. The condition often has a deteriorating effect on the patient's daily functions such as speech, chewing, breathing, and oral hygiene as well as their wellbeing and quality of life. Furthermore, childhood TMJ ankylosis frequently has a detrimental impact on the facial growth resulting in facial asymmetry, micrognathia, and/or class II malocclusion with posterior or anterior open bite. Trauma is the main cause of TMJ ankylosis, but the condition can also occur as a result of surgery, local or systemic infections, or systemic disease. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment, and several approaches have been applied, including gap arthroplasty (GA), interpositional gap arthroplasty (IGA), reconstruction arthroplasty (RA), or distraction osteogenesis (DO). The aim of this article is to present a post-traumatic TMJ ankylosis case in a 5-year-old male child who was treated with resection and simultaneous costochondral grafting and to provide a succinct update of literature.