Facial pain

If your mind thought of a tempromandibular joint disorder, you’d be correct. In this video we see a portion of the surgery to correct Ankylosis of the TMJ. Ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) most often results from trauma or infection, but it may be congenital or a result of rheumatoid arthritis. Chronic, painless limitation of mandibular motion occurs. When ankylosis leads to arrest of condylar growth, facial asymmetry is common (see Mandibular Condylar Hyperplasia). Usually treatment is conservative, but if all else fails, surgery may be indicated. The ankylotic block is removed, releasing the joint and part of the temporal muscle (lateral head muscle) is displaced or "rotated" into this space to minimize the chances of ankylosis recurrence. Note the careful dissection of the various important anatomical structures in this region. The removal of coronoid processes is also often necessary. What specifically do you see in this video? Comment and tag a future surgeon!