TOTAL JOINT REPLACEMENT (TJR) FOR UNILATERAL TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT ANKYLOSIS: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is a pathological condition characterized by
articular bony or fibrous tissue fusion. TMJ ankylosis is most commonly linked to trauma
(13-100%), infection (10-49%), and systemic diseases like anklosing spondylitis, rheumatoid
arthritis and psoriasis (10%)1
. TMJ ankylosis occurring during childhood can lead to
mandibular growth complications eventually. Hard and soft autogenous tissue grafting has
been used for TMJ reconstruction after surgical gap arthroplasty. However, in cases where
autogenous tissue grafts fail either due to unpredictable growth or reankylosis, total
alloplastic temporomandibular joint replacement (TMJ TJR) can provide a viable option. This
case reports a patient with reankylosis which was successfully managed with TJR.