Resection of TMJ ankylosis using Piezosurgery®: Report of two cases

Surgery for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis requires extreme caution because there is a risk of damaging important soft tissues, such as the facial nerve, maxillary artery and pterygoid plexus, when cutting the bone. TMJ osteoarthrotomy using conventional rotary instruments is a common procedure for the primary surgical management of TMJ ankylosis. Piezosurgery® is a new bone cutting technique that uses ultrasonic microvibrations to accurately and specifically dissect bone, thereby reducing the risk of the damage to nearby structures. The present report describes two cases of TMJ ankylosis that were successfully managed using piezoelectric bone surgery. We conclude that this new device is useful for the surgical management of TMJ ankylosis.