Background and objectives: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is a severe condition characterized by restriction of the mobility of the joint, secondary to the fibrous or bony adhesion of the disc-condyle complex to the temporal articular surface. When affecting a growing patient it causes severe facial deformations and functional problems if not treated early.

Methods: Retrospective study of case series. This study is based on the pre, intra and post-operative conditions of 15 patients who undergo surgical treatment of TMJ ankylosis between 1993 and 2012. The parameters evaluated were age, sex, referred cause, type of ankylosis, surgical technique, number of surgeries required and recurrence.

Results: The age of patients ranked between 3 and 30 years, with the onset of the condition occurring mainly in young patients. There was a discrete male predominance. Trauma, followed by local non-odontogenic infections were the most frequently reported previous condition. Interpositional arthroplasty with or without bone graft was the most common surgical technique performed.

Conclusions: TMJ ankylosis affected mostly young patients, in which compromises the normal development of facial structures. The need of more than one surgical intervention seems to be independent of the surgical technique applied.

Key words: temporomandibular; ankylosis; craniofacial development; maxillofacial