Chronic bilateral dislocation of temporomandibular joint

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Anatomy

Background:

• Mandibular condyle dislocation is a frequent condition with acute or chronic presentations.
• It is characterized by the inability to close the mouth, potentially with pain.
• Differentiating dislocation from self-reducible subluxation is crucial.

Observation:

• Anterior dislocation is the most common type.
• Predisposing factors include muscle fatigue, shallow articular eminence, and ligament laxity.
• Genetic conditions affecting collagen synthesis, such as Ehlers-Danlos and Marfan syndromes, increase predisposition.

Findings:

• Manual reduction or conservative approaches are suitable for acute dislocations.
• Surgical intervention is typically used for recurrent and chronic cases.
• A 4-month-old dislocation was successfully treated with simple manual reduction in this case.

Implications:

• Manual reduction should be considered as a primary treatment option before surgical intervention.
• This approach may offer a less invasive solution for certain chronic mandibular dislocations.
• Further research into the efficacy of manual reduction for chronic cases is warranted.