EMINECTOMY TO CORRECT DISLOCATION OF THE CONDYLE

Degenerative neurological disorders often cause involuntary movements of the jaws and can lead to recurrent dislocations of the Temporomandibular joint. The dislocation of the condyle outside its fossa causes the surrounding muscles to go into a spasm that further prevents the condyle from getting back into the joint space.

For individuals with no other medical problems, more treatment options are available. However for such neurologically compromised patients,a single step treatment that is most likely to solve the problem should be preferred rather than proceeding from the conventional conservative to invasive approach.

A good way to treat this dislocation is to remove all hindrances to the condyle while opening and closing the mouth such that even if the condyle moves out of the joint space, there is no bony hindrance to prevent it from coming back. This procedure is called eminectomy. It is a safe, short and effective way of treating recurrent dislocations.

Chandni, a 17 year old female was suffering from a neurological disorder that caused involuntary jerky movements of the jaw which caused a dislocation of the condyle outside the joint space. When she came to us, it was already a month since the episode and condyle was chronically dislocated.She was unable to close her mouth and her jaw was deviated to the opposite side. A CT scan was done to ascertain her condition which confirmed her right TMJ dislocation. Attempt at manual reduction was unsuccessful. Dr.Sunil Richardson decided to perform an eminectomy for her under general anaesthesia. The procedure took 30 mins and recovery was uneventful. There is free movement of the condyle post-operatively