Evaluation of functional and esthetic outcome after correction of mandibular hypoplasia secondary to temporomandibular ankylosis treated by distraction osteogenesis.

Patient with TMJ ankylosis are affected with mandibular hypoplasia which in turn causes functional and esthetic problems. Restoration of normal function and esthetics is the prime goal in treatment of such patients with distraction becoming an important treatment option. The present study also was conducted on patients with mandibular hypoplasia secondarily to TMJ ankylosis treated with distraction. Since function and esthetics improvement was the prime aim behind the treatment with distraction, evaluation of functional and esthetics outcome becomes an important aspect. Thus the study was indigenously designed and aimed at qualitative evaluation of the functional and esthetic outcome after correction of mandibular hypoplasia secondary to temporomandibular ankylosis with Distraction osteogenesis. Patients treated with distraction were evaluated on the basis of parameters for function and esthetics. Parameters for function were occlusion, airway, mouth opening and chewing-biting perception of patient pre and post distraction. Parameters for esthetics used were patient and panel perception. All parameters for function and occlusion improved with distraction in all the patients except one in whom occlusion and chewing- biting pattern worsened. It is concluded that distraction is a good option for improving patients functional and esthetic outcome in cases of mandibular hypoplasia secondary to temporomandibular ankylosis as the results achieved are stable with negligible chances of relapse.