Objective : Temporomandibular joint luxation occurs due to various causes such as bruises and other external forces, as well as excessive opening of the mouth during eating, yawning, dental treatment, or oral intubation procedures for general anesthesia. As onset is sudden and thus has a significant psychological impact on patients, early and appropriate treatment is necessary. In order to elucidate the actual condition of treatment for temporomandibular joint luxation, we conducted a clinical statistical investigation of patients with temporomandibular joint luxation who were treated at our department.
Subjects and Methods : Clinical data were investigated and analyzed for a total of 191 joints in 137 patients who were diagnosed with temporomandibular joint luxation after visiting our department during 14 years and five monthes from January 1993 to June 2007.
Results : Patients included 54 men and 83 women, with an age range of 3 to 99 years (mean age, 47.2 years). Pathology was classified into acute (n=26), habitual (n=98 ; 35 men, 63 women), and old (n=13). Luxation frequently developed due to dental treatment and yawning. Although the treatment method varied depending on the pathology, favorable results were obtained with non-invasive and invasive reduction.
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