Establishment of Traumatic Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis Model in Rats

doi:10.13701/j.cnki.kqyxyj.2026.05.007

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To establish the traumatic temporomandibular joint ankylosis (TTMJA) model in rats through a combined trauma approach. Methods: Thirty 3-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were selected and numbered from 1 to 30. They were randomly divided into the control group (n=15) and the experimental group (n=15). The left temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of the experimental group underwent a modeling surgery to induce TTMJA, while the right TMJ received a sham surgery. The control group was raised under normal conditions without any special treatment. Eight weeks after the surgery, the SD rats were sacrificed, their body weight and the maximum passive opening degree in the vertical direction were examined, and the TMJ complex was observed grossly, by Micro-CT, and with histological staining. Results: Eight weeks after the operation, the body weight and the maximum passive vertical mouth opening of the rats in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.001). Gross observation revealed that the joint space on the surgical side of the experimental group disappeared, while that on the sham surgery side remained normal. Micro-CT showed that the surface and gap of the joint on the surgical side had increased calciumized bone callus, and the joint volume had increased. Histological staining revealed that 60% of the rats in the experimental group had newly formed cartilage and calcified bone tissue in the joint space on the surgical side, forming bone bridges and bony joint ankylosis. Conclusion: The SD rat TTMJA model established in this experiment is similar to the human homologous disease in terms of gross anatomy, imaging, and histology, and is an effective experimental carrier for studying the mechanism of this disease.

Key words: traumatic temporomandibular joint ankylosis;
temporomandibular joint, animal model;
combined injury

FANG Yue, LI Ning, LV Tianyang, HENG Yumin, LIAO Xiaoyu, LIU Changkui, Hu Kaijin. Establishment of Traumatic Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis Model in Rats[J]. Journal of Oral Science Research, 2026, 42(5): 398-404.

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