Temporomandibular chronic dislocation: The long-standing condition

Area of Science:

• Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Dental Traumatology

Background:

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation presents as acute, habitual, or long-standing, persisting over a month.
• Long-standing TMJ dislocation necessitates varied treatment approaches, including non-surgical and surgical interventions.
• Surgical options range from indirect (conservative) to direct (open joint) approaches, with orthognathic techniques or joint replacement for complex cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present four new cases of long-standing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation treated since 1995.
• To review the existing literature on the management of protracted TMJ dislocations.
• To underscore the complexities and treatment options for long-standing TMJ dislocation.

Main Methods:

• Case series of four patients with TMJ dislocation lasting at least six weeks.
• Review of medical literature pertaining to TMJ dislocation treatment.
• Analysis of patient demographics, including mean age (57.5 years) and predominantly female gender, with most cases being bilateral.

Main Results:

• All four reported cases of long-standing TMJ dislocation achieved successful treatment outcomes.
• Approximately half of the treated cases required open surgical intervention.

Conclusions:

• Treatment of long-standing TMJ dislocation is complex, highlighting the need for a broad range of therapeutic options.
• Effective management necessitates careful consideration of available methods and timely diagnosis.
• Early diagnosis and selection of the most appropriate initial treatment strategy are paramount for favorable results in TMJ dislocation.