Undue pressure on the temporomandibular joint consequent to orthognathic surgery may result in fibrous ankylosis in the joint. Occurrence of this disorder may increase with the use of rigid internal fixation combined with 6 to 8 weeks of maxillomandibular fixation. Proper intraoperative placement of the proximal mandibular segment is the key to prevention of this complication, especially in high-risk joints.