Expanding the Surgical Options for Young Craniofacial Patients: Bilateral Alloplastic Temporomandibular Joint Reconstruction

Abstract

In skeletally immature patients, costochondral grafts (CCG) are the standard of care for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) reconstruction; however, CCGs may undergo resorption or ankylosis, resulting in reoperation and a greater risk of surgical morbidity. While TMJ reconstruction with an alloplastic implant is done in skeletally mature patients, its use in pediatric patients has been limited, particularly in those with craniofacial conditions. Recent evidence has revealed that alloplastic TMJ replacement is safe and effective in skeletally immature patients without adversely affecting the natural growth of the joint, although studies investigating their use in younger patients is still limited. In this report, we present the case of an 8-year-old female with a history of TMJ ankylosis who underwent bilateral TMJ replacement with custom prosthetic joints.