An unusual complication of condylectomy: fracture of the temporal bone and intratemporal facial paralysis.

The incidence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis appears to be decreasing with the increased socioeconomic status of society. The intraoperative complications were reported to be few, the most dangerous of which are facial nerve injury during the extended preauricular incision and maxillary artery injury during condylectomy. The authors report a case of fracture of the temporal bone tearing the intratemporal portion of the facial nerve, resulting in a total facial nerve paralysis.