Effect of auricular cartilage graft in the surgical treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis: An animal study using sheep.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to test the functional and histologic fate of an auricular cartilage graft used in reconstruction of an ankylosed sheep temporomandibular joint (TMJ).


METHODS
Five sheep were used in this study. TMJ ankylosis was induced in the right joints and the left joints were used as controls. The ankylosed TMJ was released by gap arthroplasty with an interposed auricular cartilage graft at 3 months. The sheep were sacrificed at 3 months after the arthroplasty. The maximal mouth opening was measured pre- and postoperatively. The joints were evaluated radiologically and histologically.


RESULTS
Maximal mouth opening was maintained after placement of an auricular graft into the gap arthroplasty. Radiographically the surfaces of the temporal bone and ramus stumps were irregular, but radiolucent gaps were formed between them. Histologically, the auricular cartilage graft was alive and well attached to the mandibular ramus stump. In all operated joints, there was joint space between the grafted cartilage and temporal bone, with the space filled with fibrous connective tissue, which was oriented parallel to the temporal surface.


CONCLUSIONS
Auricular cartilage graft with gap arthroplasty is useful in preventing reankylosis after TMJ gap arthroplasty for ankylosis.
Takaishi
Makoto
M
First Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan. takaishi@dpc.aichi-gakuin.ac.jp
Kurita
Kenichi
K
Matsuura
Hiroaki
H
Goss
Alastair N
AN
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000601:surgery*; D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000379:methods; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation*; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000601:surgery; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012756:Sheep; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000601:surgery*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000601:surgery*