Temporomandibular joint ankylosis: Late presentation, report of 2 cases and review of literature

The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is a unique joint because both the right and left joints must open synchronously for function, Ankylosis of the TMJ refers to bony or fibrous adhesion of the anatomical components of the joint and their ensuing loss of function. Early presentation means that the patient will require a less extensive surgical treatment. The reality, however, is that many patients present to the surgeons, years or decades after the initial injury, and so TMJ ankylosis would have been fully established. Causes of TMJ ankylosis include trauma and infections. Surgery with aggressive post-operative physiotherapy is the mainstay of management. There is paucity of reports on the presentation and management of this condition from our centre. We present two patients, 16 and 20 years old, with TMJ ankylosis in our centre. Both of them presented after 12 and 18 years, respectively, of initial injury to the TMJs.