[Treatment of recurrent mandibular dislocation]

Recurrent mandibular dislocation is an uncommon human disorder. It is found most frequently in people with neurologic diseases, patients with symptomatic temporomandibular joint diseases and in patients treated with neuroleptics. Numerous techniques have been developed for the surgical treatment of recurrent mandibular dislocation. Leclerc blocking procedure and other techniques are designed to limit the forward displacement of the condylar head. An alternative procedure is eminectomy where the articular eminence is removed in order to allow the condyle to move more freely. In the period 1990 to 1997, 23 patients (38 joints) were subjected to either Leclerc blocking procedure or eminectomy for recurrent mandibular dislocation at the Ullevål University Hospital. Treatment results were good, but some cases of recurrence were observed after the Leclerc blocking procedure.