Oral and maxillofacial surgery
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Oral Maxillofac Surg · Dec 2018
Observational StudyPre-arthroplastic mandibular distraction osteogenesis for the correction of OSA in TMJ ankylosis: a prospective observational study of 25 cases.
In severe TMJ ankylosis cases, the lack of growth of the mandible creates an anatomically narrow airway with a reduced pharyngeal airway space [PAS] which predisposes these patients towards obstructive apnoea [OSA]. There is evidence in the literature that such patients experience severe discomfort during physiotherapy if such airway abnormalities are not corrected prior to ankylosis release. This eventually leads to non-compliance towards physiotherapy and increases the risk of re-ankylosis. ⋯ Pre-arthroplastic mandibular DO has proved to be a successful modality for treatment of OSA in TMJ ankylosis patients with stable results at 12 months. By resolving the narrow airway and OSA, compliance towards physiotherapy was improved thus reducing the risk of re-ankylosis in the long term.