BACKGROUND:At present, studies on interpositional arthroplasty versus reconstruction arthroplasty for temporomandibular joint ankylosis remain scarce and controversial. OBJECTIVE:To systematical y review the efficacy of interpositional arthroplasty versus reconstruction arthroplasty in the treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis. METHODS:A computer-based online search was conducted in VIP, Wangfang, PubMed, Ovid, Embase, Clinical Evidence, Cochrance Library databases before December 2015 to compare the efficacy of interpositional arthroplasty versus reconstruction arthroplasty for temporomandibular joint ankylosis. Meta-analysis of maximal incisal opening and recurrence rate were performed using Stata13.1 software by extracting data from the relevant articles. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 15 studies were included. Meta-analysis results of maximal incisal opening:the total combined result was MD=0.99,95%CI (-1.43, 3.40), Z=0.80, P=0.424, I2=73.9%, and the analysis results from temporomandibular myofascial flap group versus costochondral graft group showed that MD=0.84, 95%CI (-1.94, 3.63), Z=0.59, P=0.553, I2=82.2%;from the other material group MD=2.08, 95%CI (-3.03, 7.19), Z=0.80, P=0.426, I2=0.0%. The recurrence rate:OR=1.13, 95%CI (0.59, 2.15), Z=0.36, P=0.721, I2=0.0%. Egger test and Begg test showed that there were no publication biases in the literatures. The sensitivity test showed that the meta-analysis results were steady because no study influenced the total combined result in the Meta-analysis. These results indicate that interpositional arthroplasty exhibited similar efficacy as reconstruction arthroplasty in the treatment of temporomandibular joint ankylosis. This study was limited by a lack of high-quality studies.