Collapse of the condylar head of the mandible in children and subsequent ankylosis.
Five cases are reported of children who presented with limitation of jaw movement and had some degree of deformity with shortening of the mandible on the affected side. X-ray examination demonstrated changes in the head and neck of the mandibular condyle. There were varying degress of sclerosis and new bone formation in the area extending from the neck of the condyle into the sigmoid notch. The left side was affected in each case. Parallels are drawn with Perthes' disease, and although the temporo-mandibular joint is not weight-bearing, in both conditions avascular necrosis is likely to be involved. Both have similar X-ray appearances. The fragmentation of the epiphysis in the later stages causes widening and collapse of the head of the femur and the mandibular condyle.
D000293:Adolescent; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D012598:Sclerosis