Anterior displacement of the mandible occurring after amputation of bilateral hyperplasia of the mandibular coronoid processes

Abstract

A case of anterior displacement that occurred after amputation of the bilateral coronoid processes is presented. A 27-year-old woman visited our department complaining of severe limitation of mouth opening. Plane radiography, panoramic radiograph, and three-dimensional computed tomography revealed bilateral hyperplasia of the coronoid processes. Amputation of the bilateral coronoid processes was performed by an intraoral approach under general anesthesia. This operation immediately resulted in an increased interincisal opening, but it caused anterior displacement of the mandible. Following jaw-stretching exercises with a splint, it was improved at two months postoperatively. A year after the operation, the patient's vertical opening is 40mm, and there has been no sign of anterior displacement of the mandible.