Management of Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis With Dentofacial Deformities in Children

Triad of temporomandibular joint ankylosis, micrognathia, and obstructive sleep apnoea: a systematic review of surgical management

Complex functional issues arising from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis are associated with abnormal mandibular growth secondary to the condylar-glenoid fossa and its surrounding structures. These include severe limited mouth opening, micrognathia, mandibular asymmetry, and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), which necessitate effective treatment to allow optimum functional rehabilitation. This article aims to present a comprehensive systematic review of the surgical strategy for patients who present with a triad of TMJ ankylosis, micrognathia and OSA via a literature search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus following PRISMA guidelines. The outcomes of interest were difference in maximum mouth opening, incidence of reankylosis, amount of mandibular advancement, posterior airway space, preoperative and postoperative apnoea/hypopnoea index, and arterial oxygen saturation, as well as changes in other cephalometric or polysomnographic variables. Thirty four studies involving 360 patients were included. Surgical interventions included distraction osteogenesis (DO), release of TMJ ankylosis and mandibular advancement, simultaneous arthroplasty and DO, pre-athroplasty DO, and post-arthroplasty DO. Most studies reported functional post-intervention mouth opening, with reankylosis reported in four. Mandibular advancement was between 6 mm and 34 mm. All studies reported improvement in the various polysomnographic variables measured. In conclusion, the systematic review was conducted based on a low level of literature evidence. Even though various surgical strategies were reported, effective case-specific management of TMJ ankylosis with micrognathia and OSA requires comprehensive assessment and careful consideration of surgical options that promote mandibular advancement and airway improvement.

Growth Evaluation After Costochondral Graft Combined With Functional Appliance in Children With Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis

The treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis in children is a great challenge for surgeons. Costochondral graft (CCG) is a common method of reconstructing the TMJ in children. However, the growth pattern of CCG is unpredictable. In this study, we introduced a surgical-orthodontic approach and evaluated the growth results of the mandible and maxilla in children with TMJ ankylosis through 3-dimensional computed tomography measurements. A prospective cohort study was conducted on child patients diagnosed as having TMJ ankylosis between September 1, 2018 and June 1, 2020. Computer-aided virtual mandibular position guided the CCG, and removable functional appliance was used after surgery. The maximal incisal opening (MIO), the maxilla height, and the length of mandibular ramus were determined. Paired t test was performed to analyze the differences among various stages. Six patients (3 females, 3 males; aged 6-9 y) were included in this study. MIO was 12.4 mm before surgery and improved to 36.8 mm after 42.8 months' follow-up. Mandible length increased by 5.1 mm in the affected side and by 5.3 mm in the unaffected side, without significant difference. The affected maxilla height increased by 6.7 mm, which was more than 5.0 mm in the unaffected side. In conclusion, continued growth of mandible and maxilla can be achieved through CCG combined with functional appliance treatment for children TMJ ankylosis.

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.

Autogenous grafts for reconstruction arthroplasty in temporomandibular joint ankylosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Autogenous methods for reconstruction arthroplasty (RA) for the surgical management of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) have been extensively reported. The present review was aimed to systematically review and pool data on clinical outcomes of autogenous grafts for RA in subjects with TMJ ankylosis. Major electronic databases and prominent subject-specific journals were searched up to December 2020. Randomised controlled trials (RCT), cohort studies, and retrospective studies reporting outcomes of autogenous grafts for RA in TMJ ankylosis were included. A total of 35 studies with 700 subjects was included. The most commonly employed grafts were costochondral grafts (CCG) and coronoid process grafts. Postoperative change in maximum incisor opening (MIO) was comparable amongst all grafts and was in the clinically acceptable range (27.21-31.38 mm). The recurrence rate was comparable for all grafts and was ≈ 8% except for coronoid grafts, where the recurrence rate was 2.98%. Growth assessment for CCG revealed that 55.89%, 30.89%, and 13.24% of subjects depicted optimal growth, overgrowth, and undergrowth, respectively. Within the limitations of the present review, the recurrence rate for all grafts was comparable except for coronoid graft, which depicted least recurrence rate and resultant postoperative change in MIO was in the clinically acceptable range.

Transport distraction osteogenesis compared with autogenous grafts for ramus-condyle unit reconstruction in temporomandibular joint ankylosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review was planned to assess the clinical outcomes of transport distraction osteogenesis (TDO) compared with autogenous grafts for reconstruction of the ramus condyle unit (RCU). We searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrial.gov, and the references of included trials. The primary outcome was maximal incisal opening (MIO). Of the 148 studies retrieved, five were included (TDO = 49, autogenous grafts =123). The mean difference in MIO between TDO and autogenous graft RCU reconstruction, based on the random-effects model was 1.28 mm (95% CI 0.167 to 2.403) in favour of TDO. Re-ankyosis was observed in four cases in the costochondral graft group and none in the TDO group. Reconstruction of the RCU using TDO is comparable to autogenous grafts after the release of TMJ ankylosis, though the evidence is weak considering the small number of trials, high risk of bias, and absence of long-term results.

A systematic review on the outcome of distraction osteogenesis in TMJ ankylosis

Introduction

TMJ ankylosis (TMJa) management by arthroplasty alone fails to address the deformity and the compromised airway. Distraction osteogenesis (DO) can offer a pragmatic solution to TMJa. The aim of the study was to generate evidence towards the role of DO in TMJa, evaluate its efficiency and develop an algorithm for use of DO in TMJa.

Material and methods

The research question was formulated using the PICOS statement for reporting guidelines in systematic reviews, where the efficiency of DO was evaluated in terms of mouth opening, correction of facial deformity and asymmetry, airway correction, and its long term effects.

Results

1130 articles reported DO as a treatment modality for TMJ ankylosis, of which 32 prospective studies, 16 retrospective and 2 RCTs were included in the study. DO was used for mandibular distraction in 45 studies and for simultaneous maxillamandibular distraction in only five studies. An algorithm for use of DO in TMJa was developed.

Conclusion

Although DO has proven its application in TMJ ankylosis cases, its best use is for correction of obstructive sleep apnoea. Relapse causing loss of posterior ramal height is a concern after transport DO. Prearthroplastic DO appears to best correct mandibular deformity. A maxillomandibular deformity requires simultaneous maxillomandibular distraction. However, a metanalysis is still awaited for effectiveness of DO in TMJ ankylosis.

Ankylosis management with autogenous grafts: A systematic review

A systematic review was performed to assess the clinical outcomes of the reconstructive methods using autogenous grafts for the management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis A comprehensive electronic and manual search of the literature without date or language restriction was performed in January 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials, prospective, and retrospective studies with the aim of comparing the various surgical modalities for TMJ ankylosis. Twenty-six publications were included: prospective (n ​= ​17), retrospective (n ​= ​7), randomised control trial (n ​= ​1) and ambispective study (n ​= ​1). Costochondral graft was the most common graft used followed by Coronoid process graft. Meta-analysis was not possible as most of studies were non-controlled in nature. Based on the available data, there was a strong evidence that autogenous grafts especially Costochondral grafts and coronoid grafts have remained one of the most favoured methods of reconstruction. Prospective and randomized control studies are recommended for the best stratification for the use of autogenous grafts for the management of TMJ ankylosis.