The need for construction of an absent condyle and ascending ramus in hemifacial microsomia arises when a patient with this congenital condition—characterized by unilateral underdevelopment of the mandible—lacks these critical TMJ components, causing facial asymmetry, chewing difficulties, and jaw dysfunction, requiring surgical creation under anesthesia with assistance in a hospital, excluding graft harvesting, to build a functional jaw joint and ramus. This procedure is indicated for severe cases of hemifacial microsomia, critical in the maxillofacial region where mandibular structure affects aesthetics and function.
Specific conditions driving this need include:
For example, a teenager with hemifacial microsomia might undergo this procedure to construct a condyle and ramus using pre-existing materials, improving bite and appearance, with the assistant aiding in precise joint shaping. In an aged care setting, an elderly patient with untreated microsomia could seek this for late-life function, adjusted for frailty and excluding graft harvest due to donor site concerns. By building the missing structures, this service restores jaw function, enhances facial symmetry, and improves quality of life, making it a specialized reconstructive solution within the maxillofacial framework.
Restores jaw function, improves facial symmetry, and enhances quality of life.
Recovery of 6-8 weeks with swelling, jaw therapy, and bone adaptation; hospital stay required.
