TOTAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT WITH CRYOGENICALLY PRESERVED ALLOGRAFT MANDIBULAR CONDYLE, MENISCUS, AND FOSSA IN THE ADULT GOAT

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the, feasibility of total temporomandibular joint reconstruction with the use of cryog enically preserved allograft mandibular condyle, disk, and fossa in th e adult goat. Study Design. This study consisted of an experimental gr oup of 10 adult goats' that underwent total resection of their temporo mandibular joints, These animals were immediately reconstructed with c ryogenically preserved mandibular condyles, disks, and fossa. These al lograft were harvested from 10 donor animals matched to the recipient animal with respect to age, sex, and head dimensions. These grafts wer e harvested and stored at -185 degrees C for several months before imp lantation. At 2 years after surgery, the animals were killed. They wer e evaluated, clinically, radiographically, and histologically. Results . Fifty percent of the eight surviving animals had a normal clinically functional joint with an intact superior joint space and viable artic ular surfaces. Conclusion. The authors conclude that this temporomandi bular joint reconstruction technique is feasible in the adult goat mod el and is deserving of further research.