title: Isolated congenital maxillomandibular synechiae.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Congenital maxillomandibular syngnathia, or fusion of the jaws, is a rare condition that has a broad spectrum of presentations. The restricted mouth opening can lead to issues with feeding, swallowing, and respiration resulting in failure to thrive and temporomandibular joint ankylosis. Early recognition and treatment is necessary for proper growth and development.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a 1-day-old male with isolated bilateral soft tissue alveolar fibrous bands. He presented with difficulty feeding secondary to trismus. No bony or muscular involvement in the synechiae was noted and the remainder of the physical exam was unremarkable. The bilateral alveolar synechiae were divided under local anesthesia using surgical scissors. The patient immediately showed improvement in mouth opening and had resolution of his feeding problems. He is now gaining weight and developing appropriately.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The accompanying review of the literature demonstrates only 11 cases worldwide of isolated maxillomandibular fusion. Depending upon the composition of the synechiae, simple surgical division under local anesthesia can be curative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Eric W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Cerrati
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: omar.ahmed@nyumc.org.
authors.forename: Omar H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rickert
mesh_terms: D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007569:Jaw Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009056:Mouth Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*