Propofol bolus facilitates reduction of luxed temporomandibular joints

"Locked" or dislocated temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a common problem in emergency medicine. Like many other joint dislocations, the repositioning of the joint can be facilitated by conscious sedation and muscular relaxation. Propofol is a useful agent for use in the emergency department because of its extremely short half-life, its antiemetic properties, and its safety record. We report two cases of locked TMJ that were repositioned under sedation with propofol. We review methods for repositioning the locked TMJ and review appropriate agents for sedation and muscular relaxation.