Congenital bilateral intermaxillary bony fusion

Application of Computer-Assisted Preoperative Planning in Treating Congenital Bilateral Zygomatico-Maxillo-Mandibular Fusion: A Case Report and Literature Review

Congenital fusion of the jaws (syngnathia) is a rare facial malformation with an unknown etiology. This disease may vary in severity with adhesion of soft tissue and bony fusion. It can be anterior fusion, unilateral or bilateral fusion, and complete fusion. The main problem of these patients is the difficulty of airway maintenance and feeding, and the most common postoperative complication is the relapse of bony fusion. Here, we report a young male patient with bony syngnathia, involving bilateral fusion of the ascending ramus and body of the mandible with the maxillary complex. We performed bone isolation by computer-assisted preoperative planning and used an insertional temporalis flap to fix the wound surface to prevent refusion of bone.

Congenital Maxillomandibular Syngnathia: Review of Literature and Proposed New Classification System

PURPOSE

Maxillomandibular fusion (syngnathia) is a rare craniofacial anomaly. It occurs as either fibrous (synechiae) or bony (synostosis) fusion of jaw or fusion of mandible to zygoma, tuberosity, hard palate and temporal bone. There are several documentations delineating this condition but owing to its varying presentation, association with both intraoral and extraoral anomalies and syndromes, reviewing it has been as uphill task. The non-unanimous description of cases in the literature and the use of different nomenclatures make it difficult to classify this condition.

METHODS

Extensive search of the literature was done from the year 1936 to 2018 which included a total of 118 cases with 62 cases of bony fusion, 48 cases of fibrous fusion and 8 cases of combined fusion, i.e., fibrous on one site and bony on another side.

RESULTS

This paper proposes a novel, simple and explicit classification system on the basis of nature of fusing tissues, location and extent, association with syndrome after reviewing the existing literature. Furthermore, this review reports 4 new cases of syngnathia along with their clinical, radiographic features and their management protocol.

CONCLUSIONS

This classification can be generalized to all the cases of syngnathia and can further facilitate in its appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Congenital syngnathia: review of clinical profile and proposal of a new classification-based management protocol

Syngnathia is a rare congenital anomaly that presents as fusion of the jaws. The aims of this study were to review the clinical profile of reported cases of syngnathia available in the literature with a view to suggesting a classification that may simplify the understanding of syngnathia and to propose an appropriate management protocol. A PubMed database search of articles published in English was conducted. Selected articles were analyzed according to year of publication, type of article, number of cases per article, patient biodata, description of syngnathia, and associated anomalies. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 19; the level of statistical significance was set at P≤ 0.05. Cases were categorized according to a proposed classification, and a review of the management of congenital syngnathia from 153 previously reported cases (in 110 articles) was done to propose a treatment protocol based on the proposed classification model. The findings are presented under three headings: pre-surgical considerations, surgical (intraoperative) considerations, and post-surgical considerations. The proposed classification categorizes syngnathia into soft tissue union (type 1) and hard tissue union (type 2). These two types were found to have similar frequencies in the literature, while their management differed in terms of mode of anaesthesia and surgical approach.

Syngnathia

Syngnathia is a congenital fusion of the upper and lower jaws. Its occurrence poses a significant challenge to feeding and its management is challenging to both the surgeon and the anaesthetist. Reports in the literature are mainly clinical reports or case series. To the knowledge of the authors and from the available literature, this is only the fourth report from Nigeria. The presentation and successful management of a Nigerian female neonate with congenital syngnathia is described and reviewed with literature.

Syngnathia-Congenital Maxillomandibular fusion: Case Report and Literature Review

Congenital maxillomandibular fusion is a rare disorder of the craniofacial region. Maintenance of the airway and difficulty in feeding are the main concerns for such patients. We performed a PubMed search to identify reported cases of syngnathia. With reference to the site of fusion and corresponding anomalies, the available studies were reviewed. The maxillomandibular fusion can be anterior fusion, unilateral or bilateral fusion, and complete fusion. The condition can be an isolated problem or associated with a syndrome. The condition requires immediate attention because it can be fatal. A case of isolated unilateral syngnathia, with the detailed review of the published data, is reported.

Congenital maxillomandibular syngnathia: a new management technique using distraction techniques

Complex zygomaticomandibular syngnathia is an extremely rare condition with an unknown etiology. The main goal of the surgery is to release the ankylosis, establish good functioning mandible, and prevent reankylosis, if possible. In our case, we offer a new solution to have an adequate oral opening and to prevent reankylosis. After the release of bony syngnathia, we placed a distractor between mandibular segment and maxillozygomatic complex. To our best knowledge, this is the only syngnathia case in the literature treated using distraction techniques. There is a major improvement in the patient's status. Distraction may broaden our horizons in this rare and difficult-to-treat deformity.

Congenital Syngnathia: Case Report and Review of Literature

Congenital bony fusion of the maxilla and mandible, especially as an isolated occurrence, is a very rare condition. The very few cases reported in the literature are mostly inadequate in description and confusing in nomenclature. An isolated case of syngnathia in a 60-year-old female patient with unilateral bony fusion (synostosis) of the maxilla and mandible associated with fibrous adhesions (synechiae) of the opposite site is reported. The existent literature is also reviewed.

Congenital alveolar fusion

Congenital fusion of the jaws is rare. It may be unilateral or bilateral and may involve only the soft tissues or both the hard and soft tissues. This anomaly may be seen separately or in association with other syndromes. Congenital alveolar fusion restricts mouth opening, causing problems with feeding, swallowing, and respiration. Case 1 had membranous bands between the alveoli that required tracheostomy for stabilization, followed by osteotomy for release. Postoperatively, both patients had adequate mouth opening.

Congenital fusion of the jaws

Congenital fusion of the jaws is quite rare. It may be unilateral or bilateral and involves only the soft tissues or both the hard and soft tissues. This anomaly may be seen separately or in association with syndromes. Maxillomandibular fusion restricts mouth opening causing problems in feeding, swallowing and respiration. This condition can be easily treated. However, in long-standing cases, growth anomalies from TMJ ankylosis may occur.

Congenital fusion of the maxilla and mandible: brief case report

Congenital fusion of the mandible and maxilla is a rare anomaly usually seen in association with various syndromes. Reports of isolated cases of bony fusion of the jaws are sparse. Only 10 reported cases were found in the literature search. Maxillomandibular fusion restricts mouth opening, causing feeding problems and difficulties in swallowing, respiration, growth, and development, and thus must be treated early. We report a case of congenital fusion of the mandible and maxilla in a 1-year-old boy and describe the clinical features of this anomaly to add to the existing literature on the subject. This is our second encounter of such a case.

Congenital Fusion of the Maxilla and Mandible

Congenital fusion of the maxilla and mandible (syngnathia) is rare and can present in a wide range of severity from single mucosal bands (synechiae) to complete bony fusion (synostosis). Congenital synostosis of the mandible and maxilla is even less common than synechiae, with only 25 cases reported in the literature. Most of them presented as an incomplete, unilateral fusion. A 4-year-old boy was referred to the authors' emergency unit with asphyxia after vomiting. The authors found the child could not open his mouth. His upper and lower jaws were fused, with only a 2- to 3-mm gap in the anterior part. X-rays and computed tomography scans showed that there was a bony fusion of the ramus of the mandible to the zygomatic complex and the posterior part of the maxilla. In addition, there was significant mandible hypoplasia. After performing an osteotomy (to treat the fusion between the bilateral ramus mandible, maxilla, and zygoma), the authors performed a temporomandibular joint reconstruction using a silicon block. After the completion of these procedures, they observed that the mouth could be opened 32 mm. After 2 years of mandibular lengthening performed with an external distracter, the patient's facial appearance and occlusion became more acceptable. An extremely rare case is described, and the existing literature is reviewed.

Acquired syngnathia

We report two cases of acquired syngnathia, in case 1 probably as a result of a fibrotic tubed pedicle and in case 2 from myositis ossificans. The treatment plan for syngnathia must include not only operation but also a rehabilitation programme (particularly muscle training)

Complete bony fusion of the mandible to the zygomatic complex and maxillary tuberosity: case report and review

Congenital craniofacial disorders represent approximately 20% of all birth defects. One of these disorders is syngnathia, of which only 24 cases have been reported since 1936. Twenty cases involved fusion of the alveolar processes of the maxilla and mandible. Only four are similar to the presented case, which includes bony fusion of the ascending ramus of the mandible to the zygomatic complex and the posterior part of the maxilla. This case report will present details from the 23rd week of gestation to 8 months of age when the infant underwent the first attempt to free the syngnathia. The literature is discussed and a causative mechanism and new classification are proposed.

Congenital unilateral fusion of the maxilla and mandible

We present an uncommon severe first branchial arch congenital malformation, in which complete unilateral bony fusion between the maxillary and mandibular processes was found in a newborn exposed to carbamazepine medication all through pregnancy. This condition interferes with oral feeding, intubation, growth and development. In a review of previously reported cases it was found that this anomaly was commonly associated with other abnormalities. The etiology of this malformation was uncertain in our case, as carbamazepine was not proven to be the definite cause.

Fusion of maxillary and mandibular alveolar process together with a median mandibular cleft: a rare congenital anomaly

Congenital fusion of the maxillary alveolar process and mandible is a very rare entity. A one day old male newborn was referred to our clinic with a diagnosis of a 'absence of oral cavity'. Physical examination revealed that there was no mouth opening bilaterally in the posterior region due to maxillary and mandibular bone fusion; and in the front there was only 1 mm of mouth opening. Examination of the intraoral space could not be achieved. No other congenital anomaly was detected on general examination. The infant, who was fed via a nasogastric tube for 1 month, was operated on. An intra-oral device which separated maxillary and mandibular alveolar arches from each other was designed and used for 8 weeks to avoid recurrence of the fusion. An adequate mouth opening was obtained and the infant could be fed orally.

Congenital bony syngnathia: a proposed classification

Congenital bony syngnathia is an extremely rare condition characterized by bony fusion of the jaws. Five new cases are described and the existent literature is reviewed. A classification system is proposed and treatment recommendations based on this classification are presented.

Congenital midline palatomandibular bony fusion with a mandibular cleft and a bifid tongue

Congenital fusion of the maxillary and mandibular alveolar arches and a cleft of the mandible are each quite rare. A patient who had both a midline palatomandibular bony fusion as well as a mandibular cleft with a bifid tongue is presented.