A case of bilateral prolonged dislocation of the temporomandibular joint treated by mandibular traction after eminectomy

Abstract

A 72-year-old woman, who had dementia and Parkinson's disease, was referred to our department due to difficulty of mouth closing for over three months. Panoramic radiograph, CT and MR images showed that the bilateral condyle was completely dislocated anterior to the articular eminence. Since noninvasive reduction treatment for three weeks failed, eminectomy was performed under general anesthesia. Thereafter, mandibular traction was performed for three months postoperatively. She recovered normal masticatory function without recurrence of dislocation.