Fate of Costochondral Graft in Temporomandibular Joint Reconstruction: A Histological Study.

OBJECTIVE: To asses the fate of the costochondral graft (CCG) used to stimulate mandibular growth in the management of Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) reconsrtuction in ankylosis-histologically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients who had undergone CCG grafting for TMJ ankylosis between 1994-2009 in the department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Tamil Nadu Govt Dental College and Hospital, Chennai and had come back with reankylosis, were surgically explored and the graft along with the ankylotic mass was excised and evaluated histologically. There is no documented human study and clinically it is not possible. RESULTS: Histological evaluation revealed the presence of osseous tissue, fibrous tissue and osteocytes but no evidence of any chondroid tissue. CONCLUSION: Our study showing the absence of chondroid tissue raises the question on the rationale of CCG in TMJ reconstruction when other interpositional gap arthroplasty can achieve a disease free joint.