Investigations on recurrent condyle dislocation in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction: a therapeutical...

In the last 2 years, 30 patients with recurrent condyle dislocation were examined and treated with two different two-phase procedures according to their main clinical symptoms. The success of both procedures, firstly, pericapsular injection of homogenous blood and, if necessary, elimination of occlusal disharmonies, and secondly, functional treatment with occlusal adjustment, in some cases followed by injection therapy, is outlined. Some suspected etiological factors are investigated. In 14 out of 19 patients in Group I injections were successful, three cases improved, and therapy failed in two patients during a follow-up of up to 18 months. Four out of eleven patients treated in Group II with occlusal adjustment first had total relief of symptoms, three improved, and four showed no significant improvement during a mean follow-up of 5 months. Our beneficial results in Group I justify the procedure described here as a valuable alternative to more aggressive approaches and should be the initial modality of choice in this condition.