title: A Delayed Complication of Temporal Craniotomy Leading to a Potentially Difficult Airway.
abstract: Pseudoankylosis of the temporomandibular joint may occur as a complication of frontotemporal craniotomy. We report a patient who presented for surgery with a restricted mouth opening resulting from an infectious complication after frontotemporal craniotomy. Early identification of the potentially difficult airway helped manage this patient. We explain the mechanism of this late complication that may result in a difficult airway. If this is not identified preoperatively when a patient presents for emergency surgery or when the patient is in altered sensorium, it may lead to an unanticipated difficult airway.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of *Neuroanesthesia and †Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rayadurg
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bhadrinarayan
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Gopalakrishna
authors.forename: Amey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Savardekar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome