The Effect of Autogenous Costochondral Grafts on Temporomandibular Joint Fibrous and Bony Ankylosis: A Preliminary Experimental Study

Matsuura, Hiroaki; Miyamoto, Hizuru; Kurita, Kenichi; Goss, Alastair N.

doi:10.1016/j.joms.2006.06.256

« Previous Next »Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Volume 64, Issue 10 , Pages 1517-1525, October 2006

The Effect of Autogenous Costochondral Grafts on Temporomandibular Joint Fibrous and Bony Ankylosis: A Preliminary Experimental Study

Hiroaki Matsuura, DDS, PhD
- Lecturer, The First-Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan; Former Visiting Research Fellow, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Dental School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
- Address correspondence and request reprints to Dr Matsuura: The First-Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, 2-11 Suemori-dori Chikusa-ku Nagoya 464-8651, Japan
Hizuru Miyamoto, DDS, PhD
- Visiting Research Fellow, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Dental School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Kenichi Kurita, DDS, PhD
- Professor, The First-Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan.
Alastair N. Goss, DDSc, FRACDS, OMS, FICD
- Professor and Director, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Dental School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to test the functional and histologic fate of costochondral grafts (CG) in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) reconstruction for unilateral ankylosis in the sheep.

Materials and Methods

Five pure-bred adult Merino sheep were used. Ankylosis was induced by articular damage, disc removal, and placement of a bone graft. At 3 months, a gap arthroplasty was performed with a CG from the thirteenth rib. The sheep were sacrificed 3 months after CG reconstruction. The range of jaw movements were recorded at first operation, at lysis of ankylosis, and at sacrifice. The joints were examined radiologically, macroscopically, and histologically.

Results

All sheep showed a decrease in masticatory function, as shown by weight loss and decreased jaw opening, during the ankylosis period. On release, they regained weight and increased the range of jaw movement. Histologically, the joint space was filled with fibrous tissue. However, the partial spaces around the CG head were covered by fibrous tissue and/or fibrous cartilage.