Gap arthroplasty and distraction osteogenesis for simultaneous correction of the mandibular deformity in childhood TMJ post-traumatic ankylosis : a case report

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis has a variety of causes, with trauma and infection being the commonest in the paediatric age group. More often than infections, post-traumatic condylar fracture can go undiagnosed in this age group and lead to post-traumatic TMJ ankylosis. We report a case of a 12-year-old boy presented with a face deformity and mouth opening limitation due to post-traumatic ankylosis of the left temporomandibular joint (TMJ). We obtained a satisfactory improvement in mouth opening and a good aesthetic balance of the face. The postoperative orthopantomogram showed that the neocondyle generated by osteodistraction of the mandibular ramus allowed us to reproduce the posterior height of the face. At the 2-year follow-up, we were convinced of the great benefits of this technique on the residual growth potential.