Modified minimally invasive surgery in reconstructing the temporomandibular joint disk by transplantation of the temporalis myofascial flap

Chondromyxoid fibroma of the temporomandibular joint - a rare case

BACKGROUND

Chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) is a rare cartilaginous tumor, accounting for < 1% of benign bone tumors. We report a case of temporomandibular joint (TMJ)-CMF, involving the pterygopalatine space and skull base and discuss its epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and management.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 56-year-old woman presented with facial asymmetry and progressive mouth opening restriction due to a mass expanding upwardly to the auriculotemporal region. Using digital techniques to determine the lesion's boundary and reconstruct the normal glenoid fossa, the temporalis myofascial flap was transplanted between the titanium mesh and condyle to reconstruct the disc after tumor resection.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the importance of identifying patients with TMJ-CMF.

Specific tissue engineering for temporomandibular joint disc perforation

BACKGROUND

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc is a critical fibrocartilaginous structure with limited regenerative capacity in the oral system. Perforation of the TMJ disc can lead to osteoarthritis and ankylosis of the TMJ because of the lack of disc protection. Clinical treatments for TMJ disc perforation, such as discectomy, hyaluronic acid injection, endoscopic surgery and high position arthroplasty of TMJ, are questionable with regard to long-term outcomes, and only three fourths of TMJ disc perforations are repairable by surgery, even in the short-term. Tissue engineering offers the potential for cure of repairable TMJ disc perforations and regeneration of unrepairable ones.

OBJECTIVES

This review discusses the classification of TMJ disc perforation and defines typical TMJ disc perforation. Advancements in the engineering-based repair of TMJ disc perforation by stem cell therapy, construction of a disc-like scaffold and functionalization by offering bioactive stimuli are also summarized in the review, and the barriers developing engineering technologies need to overcome to be popularized are discussed.

Digitalized diagnosis and treatment of pigmented villonodular synovitis of temporomandibular joint: a case report

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare locally aggressive benign tumor in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This paper presents a patient with TMJ-PVNS involving masseteric space, temporal bone, zygomatic process, and mandibular ramus. Digital technique was used to determine the boundary of the lesion and reconstruct the normal glenoid fossa. The temporalis myofascial flap was transplanted between titanium mesh and condyle to reconstruct the disk after the complete resection of the tumor. The patient's facial profile is symmetrical, with a mouth ope-ning of 43 mm. No local recurrence and complications, such as cerebrospinal fluid fistula and encephaloceles, were detected during 30-month follow-up period.