Operative management of temporomandibular joint ankylosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: Two common treatments of temporomandibular joint ankylosis are gap arthroplasty and ankylosis resection and reconstruction of the ramus-condyle unit with a costochondral graft. The purpose of the present study was to answer the following clinical question: "Among patients with temporomandibular joint ankylosis, do those patients who undergo gap arthroplasty, compared with those who undergo ankylosis resection and ramus-condyle unit reconstruction with a costochondral graft have better postoperative mandibular range of motion?"

Methods: A systematic search of the published data was performed to identify eligible studies. The primary predictor variable was treatment type (ie, gap arthroplasty or ankylosis resection and ramus-condyle unit reconstruction). The main outcome was the change in maximal incisal opening postoperatively. A random effects model was used to compute the pooled weighted mean difference between the pre- and postoperative maximal incisal opening in both treatment groups.

Results: Four studies met the inclusion criteria. Those undergoing gap arthroplasty had a significantly greater maximal incisal opening than the group undergoing ankylosis resection and ramus-condyle unit reconstruction. The weighted mean difference between the 2 groups was 2.4 mm (95% confidence interval 0.9 to 4.0; P = .002).

Conclusions: Subjects with temporomandibular joint ankylosis who underwent gap arthroplasty had significantly better postoperative maximal incisal opening than those undergoing ankylosis resection and ramus-condyle unit reconstruction with a costochondral graft.