Facial growth after treatment of unilateral temporomandibular joint ankylosis in childhood without growth centre transplantation. A serial cephalomorphometric study.
Our aim was to study the influence of early surgical treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis on further facial growth and development. At the Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Zurich, 11 children with a unilateral TMJ-ankylosis met the criteria of a maximal preoperative interincisal mouth opening of 15 mm, of a minimal long-term postoperative interincisal mouth opening of 30 mm, and of excellent documentation. 30 anatomical landmarks were defined on the copies of the follow-up cephalograms using the structure-superimposition technique. The points were perforated and digitized. Analysis and graphic-plotting were followed by computer. The hypothesis that mandibular growth continues once the ankylosis was successfully treated (without transplantation of a growth centre) and mandibular function definitely restored, was confirmed. The treatment does normalize the growth rate, but it seems that abnormal growth patterns cannot be influenced by it. As a consequence, the surgical release of the ankylosis should be performed as early as possible.
Farmand
M
M
Dept. of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
Mommaerts
M
M
Teuscher
U
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000601:surgery; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000601:surgery*; D014716:Vertical Dimension