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Case Report | Surgery | Volume 15 Issue 6, June 2026 | Pages: 1621 - 1627 | India
Post-Traumatic Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis Managed by Interposition Gap Arthroplasty Using Temporalis Muscle Flap: A Case Report
Abstract: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is a debilitating condition characterised by restricted or absent mandibular movement, most commonly arising from trauma, infection, or prior surgical intervention. We report a case of a 30-year-old male who presented with severe trismus (maximum inter-incisal opening of 4 mm) following a road traffic accident (RTA) approximately two years prior, during which he had sustained a mandibular symphysis fracture managed surgically with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The restricted mouth opening was attributable to post-traumatic fibro-osseous ankylosis of the left temporomandibular joint, confirmed on pre-operative computed tomography (CT) demonstrating joint-space reduction, condylar head flattening, articular surface irregularity, and probable intra-articular loose bodies consistent with secondary osteoarthritis. The patient was managed by interpositional gap arthroplasty using an ipsilateral temporalis muscle flap. Intra-operatively, a maximum inter-incisal opening of 41 mm was achieved following condylectomy and gap creation. Post-operative inter-incisal opening was 29 mm at first review, 31 mm at three months, and 41 mm at one year?demonstrating a satisfactory functional trajectory. Post-operative imaging including orthopantomogram (OPG) and cone-beam CT (CBCT) confirmed the absence of re-ankylosis with maintenance of the arthroplasty gap. A new post-operative CT analysis of axial and sagittal sections is presented, delineating the condylectomy defect, absence of bony bridging, and the position of the temporalis interposition. This case underscores the importance of timely intervention, meticulous surgical technique, and rigorous post-operative physiotherapy in the management of post-traumatic TMJ ankylosis.
Keywords: Temporomandibular joint ankylosis, interpositional arthroplasty, temporalis muscle flap, post-traumatic ankylosis, trismus, gap arthroplasty, condylectomy, computed tomography
How to Cite?: Dr. Nandesh Shetty, Dr. Aishwarya More, Dr. Venkatagiri Rathod, "Post-Traumatic Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis Managed by Interposition Gap Arthroplasty Using Temporalis Muscle Flap: A Case Report", Volume 15 Issue 6, June 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1621-1627, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26629115706, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26629115706