PREVALENCE, CAUSES, AND MANAGEMENT OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT ANKYLOSIS AMONG A SAMPLE OF YEMENI PATIENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Lutf Mohammed Al-Rahbi; Abdullah Salem Ali Bafalia; Ebrahim Al-Taifi; Mohialdin Al-Wahabi; Ahmed Abdulah Al-Ashwal; Mohammed Yahya Mohammed Jahaf

doi:10.22270/ujpr.v11i2.1537

Lutf Mohammed Al-Rahbi Yemen Medical Specialist Council, Ministry of Health and Population, Yemen. Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Sana’a University, Republic of Yemen.
Abdullah Salem Ali Bafalia Yemen Medical Specialist Council, Ministry of Health and Population, Yemen.
Ebrahim Al-Taifi Yemen Medical Specialist Council, Ministry of Health and Population, Yemen.
Mohialdin Al-Wahabi Yemen Medical Specialist Council, Ministry of Health and Population, Yemen.
Ahmed Abdulah Al-Ashwal Yemen Medical Specialist Council, Ministry of Health and Population, Yemen. Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Sana’a University, Republic of Yemen.
Mohammed Yahya Mohammed Jahaf Specialist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Sana’a University, Republic of Yemen.

10.22270/ujpr.v11i2.1537

Keywords:

Clinical management, etiology, maxillofacial surgery, retrospective study, surgical outcomes, TMJ ankylosis, trauma, Yemen

Abstract

Background and Objective: Temporomandibular joint ankylosis (TMJA) represents a severe and debilitating pathological condition characterized by the fusion of the mandibular condyle to the glenoid fossa, leading to profound functional impairment and significant psychological distress in affected individuals. This comprehensive retrospective cohort study aims to meticulously evaluate the contemporary prevalence, diverse etiological factors, nuanced clinical presentations, and evolving therapeutic outcomes of TMJA within a distinct cohort of Yemeni patients, thereby addressing a critical void in the regional epidemiological and clinical literature.
Methods: A rigorous retrospective cross-sectional analysis was systematically conducted across three prominent healthcare facilities in Sana’a, Yemen (Al-Thawra, Al-Gumhouri, and Al-Kuwait hospitals). The study encompassed the period from January 2023 to September 2025. Following an initial screening of 746 patient medical records, a refined cohort of 54 confirmed TMJA cases was meticulously selected for inclusion. Statistical analyses were rigorously performed using SPSS version 25 and Excel 2010.
Results: The empirical data revealed that 50.0% (n=27) of TMJA cases were concentrated within the 10–15 years age bracket, with an overall mean age of 14.85 ± 9.75 years. A pronounced male predominance was consistently observed (70.4%, n=38), yielding a male-to-female ratio of approximately 2.4:1. Traumatic injury emerged as the overwhelmingly dominant etiological factor, accounting for 81.5% (n=44) of the cohort. Bilateral involvement (55.6%, n=30) was marginally more prevalent than unilateral cases (44.4%, n=24).
Conclusion: This seminal investigation establishes a robust epidemiological baseline for TMJA in Yemen, unequivocally identifying it as a formidable clinical challenge predominantly impacting young males, with traumatic injuries serving as the principal etiological determinant. The findings emphatically underscore the imperative for implementing standardized diagnostic frameworks and evidence-based surgical protocols.