The long-term fate of pedicled buccal pad fat used for interpositional arthroplasty in TMJ ankylosis.
BACKGROUND
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is a common condition in the developing countries and has been managed by interposition arthroplasty. The pedicled buccal pad of fat (BPF) has also been used successfully for this purpose. The aim of this study was to assess the fate of BPF following interpositional arthroplasty.


METHODS
A total of 23 joints were included in this prospective study (n = 18; 5 bilateral involvement). In 18 cases, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the TMJ was done at 6- and 12-month intervals to assess the viability and fate of BPF. Postoperative mouth opening and pain scores were measured at 6-monthly intervals using visual analogue scale.


RESULTS
During the first 6 months, the artefacts hampered the visualisation of BPF in 60% of cases and visualisation was possible in only 40% cases. During the next 6 months, we could visualise BPF in 65% TMJs on MRI. There was significantly less pain and better mouth opening in the BPF group.


CONCLUSIONS
BPF is viable after 1 year and it prevents heterotopic bone formation following TMJ ankylosis release.
Department of Plastic Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh 160012, India.
Sunil
S
Gaba
Ramesh Kumar
RK
Sharma
Vidya
V
Rattan
N
N
Khandelwal
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D000328:Adult; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000601:surgery*; D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000601:surgery*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome