Autogenous Dermis-fat Graft in Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis Surgery

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is fusion or a bony union of the head of the condyle and the glenoid fossa by bony or fibrotic tissues. Due to the immobility of the TMJ, all mandibular movements get affected. Treatment goals are to allow nearly normal TMJ movements, restore symmetry of the face and occlusion, and promote growth and correction of deformity in children. The surgical techniques used to treat TMJ ankylosis are a gap or interpositional arthroplasty, joint reconstruction, and distraction osteogenesis. Appropriate interposition materials include autogenous tissues, allogeneic tissues, and alloplastic and xenograft tissues. This report presents the treatment of a patient with a diagnosis of TMJ ankylosis, who had failed surgery. Interpositional autogenous dermis-fat graft was used to manage TMJ ankylosis of the right side. The technique is discussed within the current literature.