Morphology and craniofacial characteristics of temporomandibular joint ankylosis patients

Temporomandibular joint (tmj) ankylosis is interference in the mobility of the jaws which varies from slight to complete inability to open the jaw. this study was conducted to determine the morphological and cephalometric characteristics in patients diagnosed with tmj ankylosis. a total of 25 (13 male/12 female) patients of tmj ankylosis,with age range of 5-20 years referred via opd or oral and maxillofacial surgery department,khyber college of dentistry peshawar were evaluated for period of 1 year. all variables obtained were entered in spss version 10.0 and frequencies were calculated. most common etiology for tmj ankylosis was trauma (n=22,88%). the onset of mouth opening limitations began when the patients were younger than 10 years age. unilateral ankylosis was found in 17 patients (68%). antero-posterior cephalometric findings demonstrated sna 3° to 10° below norm,showed retrognathic maxilla. snb was 2° to 19° below the norm also showed mandible in severe retrognathia (n=25). total mandibular length (go-gn) was severely decreased in both the affected and non-affected sides in 76.47% patients. five (62.5%) patients with bilateral tmj ankylosis were presenting even with more disharmonious linear jaw relationships.