Rehabilitating children with temporomandibular joint ankylosis

Although the probability of ankylosis following injury of the temporomandibular joint is small, patients, especially children with temporomandibular joint ankylosis, are greatly handicapped. Of the 42 cases of ankylosis seen in our clinic, six occurred in the adult, and 36 in children under 14 years of age. Treatment in all cases was surgical, and the results were beneficial, although the greatest difficulty in the treatment had been the early recurrence of ankylosis. Based on our experience, osteoarthrotomy for temporomandibular joint ankylosis in children has been advocated.