Temporomandibular joint dislocation in Nairobi.

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Dental Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation management lacks extensive research in East Africa.
• Diverse conservative and surgical treatments exist, yet their application and outcomes in the region are under-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To audit the occurrence patterns, demographics, and etiology of TMJ dislocations.
• To enumerate and evaluate treatment modalities for TMJ dislocation at the University of Nairobi Dental Hospital.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted.
• Data was collected from January 1995 to July 2005 at the University of Nairobi Dental Hospital.

Main Results:

• Twenty-nine patients were managed for TMJ dislocation, with a mean age of 42; 69% were female.
• Anterior dislocations (86.2%) were most common, often spontaneous (83%), with yawning as a frequent cause.
• Surgical management (72%) was preferred over conservative methods, with eminectomy achieving a 75% success rate.

Conclusions:

• The highest incidence of TMJ dislocation occurs in the 3rd-5th decade, with a female predominance and a predilection for bilateral anterior dislocations.
• Surgical interventions, particularly eminectomy, are the predominant treatment, demonstrating high success rates.
• Further research is needed to understand the underutilization of conservative TMJ dislocation management in this setting.