Frequency of temporomandibular joint ankylosis secondary to condylar fractures among patients presenting to Oral and Maxillofacial Department Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad.

Abstract

Objective: Trauma, particularly condylar fractures, continues to be one of the most common etiological causes for TMJA. Condylar fractures if not treated well, they make patients prone to ankylosis by fibrosis followed by bony fusion. Early detection and proper management are, thus, essential for preventing ankylosis. Study Design: Prospective Observational study. Setting: Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. Period: December 2024 to May 2025. Methods: We included 127 patients with clinically diagnosed condylar fractures by non-probability consecutive sampling. TMJ ankylosis was examined clinically with restricted or non-existent mandibular movements and firm end feel. Ankylosis and variables associated with the fracture were correlated with Fisher's exact test, with p < 0.05 regarded as statistically significant. Results: Traffic road accidents were the most common cause (59.1%). Intracapsular fractures were the most common (72.4%), and unilateral presentation was more common (56.7%). Limited mouth opening was the most common presenting feature (67.7%). TMJ ankylosis was present in 7.1% of the patients, which was more common in intracapsular fractures, bilateral presentations, and after traffic road accidents, although these trends were not statistically significant. There was a high correlation with duration of fracture (p < 0.001), as no ankylosis was seen in cases with presentation within ≤6 weeks, but the prevalence was 13.8% with presentation in 3–6 months and 38.5% after 6 months. Conclusion: Ankylosis of TMJ is a serious complication of delayed treatment of condylar fractures, the strongest predictor of which is the duration of fracture. Early treatment should be done to avoid ankylosis.