One stage management of ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint with a custom-made total joint replacement system

Alloplastic joint prostheses have been used in the treatment of severe diseases of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) for many years. Treatment of ankylosis of the TMJ has been difficult, with many surgical approaches being used that traditionally involved multistage procedures, long treatment times, and increasing expense. We report a single stage technique for replacement of an ankylosed joint using a custom-made prosthesis, and discuss the technical aspects of the procedure, including our use of a custom-made acrylic glenoid fossa template.