We refer to the article “New protocol to prevent TMJ reankylosis and potentially life threatening complications in triad patients” by Andrade et al., published in your esteemed journal. Although the study is a good documentation of the fact that obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a significant finding, contributing to poor quality of life in patients with TMJ ankylosis, the protocol suggested is not a ‘new’ one. An article on this subject involving cases managed with a similar protocol was published by the authors in 2008. We feel that it would have been an appropriate gesture to acknowledge this similar work reported by a group of peers in the article published in your journal, which has a good reputation for publishing unbiased studies and original work. The original work done by our study group concerned the use of overnight pulse oximetry to document the results of a modified protocol involving mandibular distraction to correct sleep disordered breathing as stage 1, and surgery for the release of TMJ ankylosis as stage 2, with good results in the short-term follow-up.