Objectives: This study aims to report a delayed Gardner syndrome diagnosis mimicking temporomandibular ankylosis.
Methods: An 11-year-old patient was treated at the Hospital Josina Machel, Luanda, Angola for severe chronic trismus without TMJ involvement. Some difficulties in diagnosis and final results were discussed.
Case report: A delayed diagnosis of Gardner syndrome was treated by the authors. The delay was due to a lack of timely CT scans and some COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. This delay worsened the patient´s clinical condition for several months. Classic surgical gap arthroplasty has been used and considered successful, particularly when material is scarce.
Conclusions: Classical surgical techniques are still very useful in some parts of the world that do not rely on modern technology. International collaboration through teledentistry, case review over the Internet, and humanitarian or educational missions are very helpful in low-income countries.
Keywords: Angola; Ankylosis; Case report; Delayed diagnosis; Gardner syndrome; Oral; Pathology.
© The Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of India 2023.