Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis Surgery in Children

Abstract

A variety of techniques have been described in the literature for the treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis. However, 1 of the factors most commonly related to the failure of maintenance mouth opening in the postoperative period is the inadequate excision of the ankylotic mass. Furthermore, the surrounding noble structures, such as the base of the skull, internal maxillary artery, and dental germs, are at risk of being affected during the procedure. For this reason, prototyped guides have been proposed to steer osteotomies and resections of the ankylotic block in the temporomandibular joint. Nevertheless, access to this technology, especially in developing countries, can represent a financial barrier. Therefore, our proposal is to manufacture low-cost surgical cutting guides to increase their applicability.