Temporomandibular joint ankylosis in south western Nigeria

Objective: To determine the relationship between the aetiological factors, duration of ankylosis and the types of ankylosis and to evaluate the outcom e of different treatment modalities used. Design: Retrospective study of cases managed. Setting: University teaching hospital at Ilbadan, Nigeria. Subjects Thirty six cases treated between 1982 and 1997. Results: Infection related aetiological factors were 65.6% while trauma was 27.8%, The relationship between aetiological factors and type of ankylosis classified by anatomic site, was statistically significant, Results sugges t that infection-related aetiological factors are likely to give rise to ex tracapsular ankylosis, while trauma results in intracapsular ankylosis, Twe nty five per cent reported for treatment within 12 months of onset of ankyl osis while 72.2% reported after 24 months. The relationship between ankylos is of 24 months duration and above, and classification of ankylosis accordi ng to tissue type was also significant (p<0.05) and suggests that ankylosis of such duration is likely to be bony or mixed fibrous and bony. Of the ty pes of ankylosis, 77.8% had bony components while 22.2% were of the fibrous variety. As regards treatment, interpositional arthroplasty with the masse ter muscle produced results that were more consistent and satisfactory than gap arthroplasty. Conclusion: The aetiological factors and duration of ankylosis influenced t he type of ankylosis.