Custom-Made Alloplastic Prosthetic Implant to Treat Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis in Pediatric Patients: A Case Study

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) ankylosis represents a fairly common condition which surgeons need to face. According to Rowe, it can be defined as a restricted functional capacity of the jaw with limited movements owing to bony or fibrous adhesions between the condyle and either glenoid fossa, disc or eminence (or both). It can become a disease which impacts patients’ daily life, who suffer from limited mandibular excursion with reduced intercisal opening, anterior open bite, inability to swallow, sleep disorders, and speech problems. In children this may also result in abnormal mandibular and facial growth. In this paper, we deal with the case of a child with an important momolateral ankylosis, previously treated surgically with Costochondral Grafting arthroplasty without success and subsequently treated with a custom-made prosthesis.

Absorbance or organization into ankylosis: a microarray analysis of haemarthrosis in a sheep model of temporomandibular joint trauma

Background Traumatic haemarthrosis was hypothesized to be the etiology of temporomandibular (TMJ) ankylosis. Here, taking haematoma absorbance as a control, we aimed to reveal the molecular mechanisms involved in haematoma organizing into ankylosis using transcriptome microarray profiles. Material/methods Disk removal was performed to building haematoma absorbance (HA) in one side of TMJ, while removal of disk and articular fibrous layers was performed to induced TMJ ankylosis through haematoma organization (HO) in the contralateral side in a sheep model. Haematoma tissues harvested at days 1, 4 and 7 postoperatively were examined by histology, and analyzed by Affymetrix OviGene-1_0-ST microarrays. The DAVID were recruited to perform the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis for the different expression genes (DEGs). The DEGs were also typed into protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks to get the interaction data. Six significant genes screened from PPI analysis, were confirmed by real-time PCR. Results We found 268, 223 and 17 DEGs at least twofold at days 1, 4 and 7, respectively. At day 1, genes promoting collagen ossification (POSTN, BGN, LUM, SPARC), cell proliferation (TGF-β), and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (BMP-2) were up-regulated in the HO side. At day 4, several genes involved in angiogenesis (KDR, FIT1, TEK) shower higher expression in the HO side. While HA was characterized by a continuous immune and inflammatory reaction. Conclusions Our results provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of haematoma in the onset and progress of TMJ ankylosis. The study will contribute to explaining why few injured TMJs ankylose and most do not from the molecular level.

Management of Bilateral Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis and Class 2 Malocclusion in a Patient With Nager Syndrome

Nager syndrome is a rare hereditary syndrome characterized by severe mandibulofacial and pre-axial upper limb anomalies. Patients with Nager syndrome often exhibit syndromic Pierre-Robin sequence secondary to their hypoplastic mandible and require mandibular distraction osteogenesis to prevent dependence on a tracheostomy or gastric tube. This procedure, however, has been associated with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis. TMJ ankylosis is a highly debilitating condition that dramatically impairs patients’ function and can result in facial asymmetry in affected children during periods of rapid facial growth. Surgical intervention is warranted in patients who fail physiotherapy; however, there is no gold standard treatment for surgically correcting TMJ ankylosis in patients with Nager syndrome. Herein, we detail the surgical management of TMJ ankylosis and class 2 malocclusion in a patient with Nager syndrome.

Absorbance or Organization into Ankylosis: A Microarray Analysis of Haemarthrosis in a Sheep Model of Temporomandibular Joint Trauma

Background: Traumatic haemarthrosis was hypothesized to be the etiology of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis. Here, taking haematoma absorbance as a control, we aimed to reveal the molecular mechanisms involved in haematoma organizing into ankylosis using transcriptome microarray profiles.Material/Methods: Disk removal was performed to building haematoma absorbance (HA) in one side of TMJ, while removal of disk and articular fibrous layers was performed to induced TMJ ankylosis through haematoma organization (HO) in the contralateral side in a sheep model. Haematoma tissues harvested at days 1, 4 and 7 postoperatively were examined by histology, and analyzed by Affymetrix OviGene-1_0-ST microarrays. The DAVID were recruited to perform the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis for the different expression genes (DEGs). The DEGs were also typed into protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks to get the interaction data. Six significant genes screened from PPI analysis, were confirmed by real-time PCR.Results: We found 268, 223 and 17 DEGs at least 2-fold at days 1, 4 and 7, respectively. At day 1, genes promoting collagen ossification (POSTN, BGN, LUM, SPARC), cell proliferation (TGF-β), and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (BMP-2) were up-regulated in the HO side. At day 4, several genes involved in angiogenesis (KDR, FIT1, TEK) shower higher expression in the HO side. While HA was characterized by a continuous immune and inflammatory reaction.Conclusions: Our results provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of haematoma in the onset and progress of TMJ ankylosis. Further study of key genes may provide new ideas for future treatment of the disease.

Newer Airway Gadgets: Rescuers in Difficult Airway Scenarios

Background: As anaesthetists, we may constantly be in the learning curve of the management of difficult airway scenario. It can have a disastrous outcome if one is not adequately prepared with the right equipment. Over time there has been multiple ways to tackle difficult airway scenarios. Needless to say, appropriate airway gadgets are carefully chosen according to the surgery and patient characteristics. But what if these certain techniques fail? Then, what next? The inability to efficiently manage a difficult airway is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in anaesthetic practice. Here, we discuss 4 different case scenarios of difficult airway management. case reports:Case 1 was a pediatric patient with TMJ ankylosis, with mouth opening 4mm, in whom we used the fibreoptic technique. Case 2- A failed fibreoptic attempt in a case of recurrent Ca oral cavity where we secured the airway using Airtraq videolaryngoscope. Case 3- A patient with post burn contracture over front of neck and anterior shoulder where we decided to use intubating laryngeal mask airway for securing airway and Case 4- An obese female patient posted for hysterolaparoscopy where we used the Laryngeal Mask Airway Supreme. Conclusion: Effective usage of newer drugs, equipment and airway gadgets by technically skilled personnel, with sound clinical judgement are essential factors in reducing airway related adverse scenario and it is of utmost importance to keep these alternate gadgets handy and to be proficient with its usage.

Ankylosis of the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Update and its treatment

In dentistry, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is a rare pathology where no consensus of global population data has been found and therefore has presented a challenge for professionals, since there are no treatment sequence protocols standardized. The objective is to carry out a literature review and update of the diagnosis of ankylosis, considering its clinical characteristics, classification, etiology, and epidemiology. Giving special emphasis to the types of treatments used and concluding that GAP interpositional arthroplasty and TMJ reconstruction arthroplasty would be the best options to improve maximum oral opening in a patient with ankylosis, thus allowing him to recover function and aesthetics.