Hippocrates Asserted That Temporomandibular Joint Dislocation Could Be Fatal if Not Reduced

Kazuya Yoshida1

  • 1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, National Hospital Organization, Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, JPN.

Cureus
|October 24, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Hippocrates may have described traumatic superior temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation, a rare condition where the jaw dislocates into the skull. This ancient observation aligns with modern findings of serious neurological complications and fatalities from such injuries.

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