The Usefulness of Mandibular Anglectomy in Patients With Masticatory Muscle Tendon-Aponeurosis Hyperplasia: A Preliminary Single-Center Survey

Objective Masticatory muscle tendon-aponeurosis hyperplasia (MMTAH) is a recently identified condition characterized by restricted mouth opening due to hyperplasia of the temporalis muscle tendon and masseter muscle aponeurosis. This study examines the treatment and clinical course of patients with MMTAH who underwent surgery at our hospital. Subjects and methods The study included 14 patients (four males and 10 females; mean age: 33.9 years; age range: 17-50 years) who were clinically diagnosed with MMTAH at our hospital between 2008 and 2020. The surgical procedure, as well as the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative mouth opening range of each patient, were examined. Results In all cases, the mouth opening range significantly improved postoperatively. Patients who underwent mandibular anglectomy showed a significantly greater mouth opening range both preoperatively and postoperatively compared to those who did not undergo the procedure. Additionally, mandibular anglectomy was effective in maintaining the mouth opening range at six months in patients who underwent the procedure, in contrast to those who did not. Conclusions Mandibular anglectomy appears to be effective in maintaining the mouth opening range in patients with MMTAH. While additional case studies are needed to confirm our findings, we believe that mandibular anglectomy is a valuable treatment option for MMTAH.