[Occurrence of post-traumatic temporo-mandibular ankylosis. Trial of classification of anatomo-pathologic lesions]

According to the authors, who have an 18-year experience, the treatment of temporomandibular ankylosis in children consists in the resection of the ankylosis block and of the corresponding neck of the condyle, along with the preservation of the capsule and articular disk and a dynamic blockade with the mouth open until the mandibular condyle is completely reconstructed. After witnessing the constitution of ankylosis in a child who was initially examined 3 weeks after the trauma, we were able to carry out a thorough clinicopathological examination of the areas of tissue characterizing incipient ankylosis, both in the condylar cartilage and in the underlying bone. The initial stage produces the progressive emergence of the bony surfaces, which then bear no cartilage. This is osteogenesis as well as cartilage resorption, as evidenced by the presence of neoformed Haversian canals at that level. This is a formal argument in favor of a systematic dynamic blockade with the mouth open in all cases of fresh condylar surface and the menisceal surface of the joint is the best way to prevent ankylosis or malunion.