Combined treatment protocol for temporomandibular joint ankylosis: an observation on a clinical problem

Various techniques have been defined for the treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis. However, in some cases, they are unsuccessful, resulting in continuing pain and limitation in interincisal distance after surgery. This report describes the case of a 32-year-old woman who has been experiencing temporomandibular joint ankylosis for a period of 8 years. Several surgical procedures failed. A treatment approach combining auricular cartilage interposition arthroplasty with postsurgical functional treatment using a spring activator is presented. Using this approach, pain settled and maximal interincisal distance was raised from 22 to 35 mm after 4 months and remained stable for further 10 months.