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Calcification of the Sphenomandibular Ligament: A Rare Case of Restricted Mouth Opening in a Pediatric Patient Cover

Calcification of the Sphenomandibular Ligament: A Rare Case of Restricted Mouth Opening in a Pediatric Patient

Open Access
|Feb 2025

Abstract

This report aims to present a very rare case of progressive limited mouth opening (trismus) in an 8‑year‑old child caused by calcification of the sphenomandibular ligament. This case highlights the difficulty of diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with this disorder. We discuss the detailed clinical and radiological approach, including the imaging techniques used to identify the calcification, as well as the treatment option chosen, namely maxillofacial physiotherapy. This report provides new information to the existing literature on this rare entity and to provide useful information for the clinical management of similar cases.

Teaching point: Sphenomandibular ligament ossification is a very rare cause of limitation of mouth opening and can be a challenging diagnosis.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/jbsr.3749 | Journal eISSN: 2514-8281
Language: English
Submitted on: Aug 29, 2024
Accepted on: Jan 28, 2025
Published on: Feb 18, 2025
Published by: Ubiquity Press
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2025 Sarah Kechtban, Pierre-Antoine Poncelet, Timothée Dontaine, published by Ubiquity Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.