Temporomandibular joint dislocation: experiences from Zaria, Nigeria

Causes and treatment of temporomandibular luxation-a retrospective analysis of 260 patients

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to clarify the etiology, diagnostic process, and treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) luxation, as the standard care is mainly based on case-reports and systematic studies are lacking. The hypotheses were that luxation occurs spontaneously, recurrence manifests particularly among geriatric patients, and surgery is needed infrequently.

PATIENTS AND MATERIALS

A retrospective study of TMJ luxation patients (n = 260) from 2007 to 2020 was designed and implemented. The primary outcome was type of TMJ luxation (i.e., recurrent or non-recurrent), and secondary outcomes were the need for and type of surgical intervention. Predictor variables comprised age, sex, presence of neurological condition, and mechanism of luxation. Administered treatment and clinical outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

Of luxation, 61.9% was recurrent and 40.0% due to spontaneous cause. Only 1.9% of patients underwent surgical intervention. The presence of neurological condition caused a 1.34-fold risk for recurrence of luxation and general condition a 1.57-fold risk.

CONCLUSIONS

TMJ luxation is often recurrent, bilateral, and spontaneous. Recurrent luxation is associated with geriatric and neurological conditions, and in this group recurrent TMJ luxation predicted death.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Our findings contribute to more effective diagnostics and treatment of TMJ luxation patients. We show that there is a need to standardize diagnostic measures and treatment patterns. Moreover, collaboration with other specialities, especially neurology and geriatrics, is important.

Profile of patients with TMJ dislocation in a level-1 emergency hospital: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To describe a cross-sectional study of TMJ dislocation in a Brazilian level-one trauma center.

METHODS

The data were collected and analyzed from electronic medical records in a period from 2013 to 2020.

RESULTS

Bilateral TMJ dislocation occurred in the majority of cases, being reduced by the Nélaton maneuver associated with Barton's bandage. The average time between the dislocation and specialist appointment was 30.69 hours. Elderly patients were associated with an increased number of recurrent dislocations (p = 0.03). Furthermore, a longer dislocation time was associated with the reduction under intravenous (IV) sedation (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The literature is still scarce concerning demographic data, treatment modalities, and follow-up. More studies are necessary to better understand TMJ dislocation management.

Evaluation of the effects of prolotherapy on condyles in temporomandibular joint hypermobility using fractal dimension analysis

Objectives

Prolotherapy is a method that has gained popularity in recent years and has been reported to have positive short-term and long-term clinical results in maxillofacial surgery, especially temporomandibular joint (TMJ) hypermobility. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the trabecular structure of mandibular condyles in patients who underwent prolotherapy due to TMJ hypermobility using the fractal analysis method.

Materials and Methods

Forty-five patients who received dextrose prolotherapy at a concentration of 20% and fifteen control patients were included in the study. All patients had panoramic radiographs just before (T0) and six months after treatment (T1). The patients who received treatment were divided into three groups according to the number of prolotherapy injections. The regions of interest were selected from bone areas close to the articular surfaces of the condyles. The fractal dimension (FD) values were calculated.

Results

The main effect of time on the FD value was significant [F (1, 56)=86.176, P<0.001]. This effect was qualified by a significant time×group interaction effect [F (3, 56)=9.023, P<0.001]. The decreases in FD values in all treatment groups between T0 and T1 times were significant (P=0.004). However, changes in FD values were not significant in the control group (P=0.728).

Conclusion

Dextrose prolotherapy without the effect of the number of injections caused a decrease in FD values in the mandibular condyles over time.

Anterior dislocation of the temporomandibular joint: a simplified non-traumatic manual technique

Anterior mandibular dislocation (AMD) is defined as the displacement of the condylar head out of the glenoid fossa beyond the articular eminence, and that does not reduce spontaneously to its normal position. The Hippocratic method is the usual approach for condylar repositioning at most health centers although it is perceived by the patient as an unpleasant, brusque technique and outcomes are not always favorable.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work is to describe a new simplified nontraumatic manual technique and its application in a series of cases.

METHOD

A procedure based on gently and constantly guiding the patient's mouth opening and closing movements is described in detail.

RESULTS

Forty-two patients were treated with a treatment success rate of 100%, and no pain associated with the procedure. Procedure time was 1.5-7 min in 40 of the 42 treated cases.

CONCLUSION

The procedure presented here is an improvement on the original technique: it is simple, fast, effective, can be performed in any setting, and avoids use of brusque force, which is the factor that causes the patient most discomfort and fear.

Treatment of temporomandibular joint luxation: a systematic literature review

Objectives

To evaluate the effectiveness of surgical and nonsurgical treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) luxation.

Materials and methods

This systematic literature review searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases to identify randomized controlled trials on TMJ luxation treatment published between the inception of each database and 26 March 2018.

Results

Two authors assessed 113 unique abstracts according to the inclusion criteria and read nine articles in full text. Eight articles comprising 338 patients met the inclusion criteria, but none of these evaluated surgical techniques. Three studies including 185 patients concerned acute treatment with manual reduction of luxation while five studies including 153 patients evaluated minimally invasive methods with injection of autologous blood or dextrose prolotherapy for recurrent TMJ luxation. These studies reported that mouth opening after treatment was reduced and that independent of type of injection, recurrences of TMJ luxation were rare in most patients.

Conclusions

In the absence of randomized studies on surgical techniques, autologous blood injection in the superior joint space and pericapsular tissues with intermaxillary fixation seems to be the treatment for recurrent TMJ luxation that at present has the best scientific support. Well-designed studies on surgical techniques with sufficient numbers of patients, long-term follow-ups, and patient experience assessment are needed for selection of the optimal surgical treatment methods.

Clinical relevance

Autologous blood injection combined with intermaxillary fixation can be recommended for patients with recurrence of TMJ luxation.

The Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Dislocation

BACKGROUND

The estimated incidence of temporomandibular joint dislocation in Germany is at least 25/100 000 per year. A correct diagnosis and the initiation of appropriate treatment without delay are essential if permanent damage to the joint is to be avoided.

METHODS

This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a systematic search in the PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and ZB Med databases.

RESULTS

The initial search yielded 24 650 hits; duplicates were removed and 136 studies were chosen for further analysis. The diagnosis of temporomandibular joint dislocation is generally made clinically from the finding of a lower jaw that is fixed in the open position. Acute dislocations are manually repositioned at once. The most common method is Hippocratic repositioning, in which the physician's thumb is placed laterally next to the teeth and the other fingers are placed on the lower surface of the lower jaw. The physician then exerts pressure, first caudally, then dorsally. Repositioning is carried out in two steps. For dislocations that have been present for a longer time, manual repositioning may be ineffective and surgery may be needed. Recurrent dislocation can be treated in a minimally invasive way with botulinum toxin injections or autologous blood therapy. Surgery may be needed if these methods are ineffective.

CONCLUSION

There have been no more than a few randomized, controlled trials of treatments for temporomandibular joint dislocation, in particular concerning minimally invasive and open surgical treatments, and therefore only limited evidence-based conclusions can be drawn. Nonetheless, the diagnostic and therapeutic standards that have been established in recent years have gained wide international acceptance.

MANAGING TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISLOCATION IN IBADAN: A REVIEW OF 11 CASES

AIM

The study presents a case series which evaluates the presentation, management and outcome of TMJ dislocation in a tertiary health centre in Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Case review of 11 patients with TMJ dislocation seen in the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan over a period of 10 years. The criteria for the diagnosis of TMJ dislocation were based on history, clinical examination and radiologic findings.

RESULTS

Mean age of patients was 44.4 years (SD +/-15.9years); age range was 25-65 years with 4 males and 7 females. Aetiology was trauma in 4 cases, wide mouth opening in 6 cases and unknown in a patient. There were 7 acute presentations, 2 recurrences and 2 chronic presentations; bilateral anterior presentation in 10 cases, unilateral (right) anterior presentation in 1 case. 4 of the acute cases were successfully managed using the Hippocrates manoeuvre, 1 had the manoeuvre under GA, and 2 had spontaneous reduction. All recurrent cases were successfully managed with the Hippocrates manoeuvre and IMF. Fifty percent of the chronic cases were successfully managed with the Hippocrates manoeuvre. Follow up was ≤ 2 weeks in 7 of the cases.

CONCLUSION

The pattern of presentation of TMJ dislocation in the above named hospital was anterior dislocation, the female gender predominance, aetiology of wide mouth opening, as well as early presentation. A conservative method of management - the Hippocrates manoeuvre - was effective in most cases irrespective of duration of dislocation. Most patients had a poor attitude to follow up.