Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis in children is a challenging problem. Surgical correction is technically difficult and the incidence of recurrence after treatment is high. The purpose of the present report is to describe the protocol currently used at the Massachusetts General Hospital for the management of TMJ ankylosis in children. It has been our observation that the most common cause of treatment failure is inadequate resection of the ankylotic mass and failure to achieve adequate passive maximal opening in the operating room. The 7-step protocol consists of 1) aggressive excision of the fibrous and/or bony ankylotic mass, 2) coronoidectomy on the affected side, 3) coronoidectomy on the contralateral side, if steps 1 and 2 do not result in a maximal incisal opening greater than 35 mm or to the point of dislocation of the unaffected TMJ, 4) lining of the TMJ with a temporalis myofascial flap or the native disc, if it can be salvaged, 5) reconstruction of the ramus condyle unit with either distraction osteogenesis or costochondral graft and rigid fixation, and 6) early mobilization of the jaw. If distraction osteogenesis is used to reconstruct the ramus condyle unit, mobilization begins the day of the operation. In patients who undergo costochondral graft reconstruction, mobilization begins after 10 days of maxillomandibular fixation. Finally (step 7), all patients receive aggressive physiotherapy. A case series of children with ankylosis treated using this protocol is presented.
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