title: Use of computer-assisted templates for placement of osteotomies in lateral gap arthroplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of computer-generated surgical templates for precise bone removal in the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis with a medially displaced condyle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients found to have a medially displaced condylar head and lateral bony fusion from January 2012 through January 2014 were included in the study. ProPlan CMF 1.4 software (Materialise Medical, Leuven, Belgium) was used to design the osteotomies for the lateral bony fusion and protect the medial condylar head. Surgical templates were fabricated to transfer the design to the operation and effectiveness was evaluated postoperatively using computed tomographic (CT) scan comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 5 surgeries with a total of 7 joints, the surgical templates fit well and accurately guided the osteotomies. The skull base, external auditory canal, major vessels, and residual condyle were well protected. Postoperative CT difference analysis calculated an average difference of 1.044 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computer-assisted surgical templates accurately guided bone removal and protected the residual condylar head, skull base, and external auditory canal in the treatment of TMJ ankylosis.
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Oral Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: dongmeihe119@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Dongmei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Maxillofacial Surgeon, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Julian J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000601:surgery*; D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000098:blood supply; D008875:Middle Aged; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019291:Skull Base / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012984:Software; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000293:injuries; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult