Assessment of upper airway changes after interpositional arthroplasty: a cephalometric analysis

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Anesthesiology
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis restricts jaw movement and can compromise airway.
• Surgical interventions aim to restore joint function and improve facial aesthetics.
• Interpositional arthroplasty is a surgical technique used to treat TMJ ankylosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of interpositional arthroplasty on airway dimensions and soft tissue parameters in patients with TMJ ankylosis.
• To assess changes in nasopharyngeal, oral, soft palate, and tongue areas post-surgery.
• To determine the effect of the surgery on the stomatognathic system's function and aesthetics.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study design.
• Inclusion of ten patients diagnosed with TMJ ankylosis.
• Preoperative and postoperative measurements of skeletal and soft tissue parameters, including airway areas.

Main Results:

• Significant increases observed in soft tissue parameters post-surgery.
• Notable improvements in nasopharyngeal area (3482.4 mm² to 3618.7 mm²), oral area (2731.8 mm² to 2840.8 mm²), soft palate area (204.9 mm² to 217.3 mm²), and tongue area (2577.5 mm² to 2600.8 mm²).
• Minor changes noted in skeletal parameters.

Conclusions:

• Interpositional arthroplasty is effective in enhancing airway dimensions and soft tissue parameters in TMJ ankylosis patients.
• The procedure positively influences the aesthetic and functional aspects of the stomatognathic system.
• Further research is recommended to confirm these findings and evaluate long-term outcomes.