OM was a 26-year-old male student who\npresented with chronic recurrent TMJ dislocation\nfollowing wide mouth opening (yawning) of about\none day duration having had about 10 previous\nepisodes (talking, laughing, yawning) all of which were\nsuccessfully treated with the Hippocrates manouvre.\nHe presented with a desire for a definitive treatment.\nPlain X-rays (TMJ views) revealed short mandibular\ncondyles. He had reduction using the Hippocrates\nmanouvre and subsequent immobilization with maxillomandibular\nfixation for two weeks but had a recurrence\nimmediately after. Definitive care was bilateral\neminectomy which involved grounding down of the\narticular eminences using round/acylic burs under\ngeneral anesthesia. There was complete resolution of\nsymptoms, restoration of temporomandibular joint functions and resolution of associated facial nerve\nweakness at five month post-operative review.
OO was a 40-year-old female fashion\ndesigner who presented with a 1 day history of inability\nto close her mouth following a fall during an epileptic\nfit during which she hit her face on the floor. This was\nthe seventh episode, the first episode having occurred\n13 years prior to presentation. She is known epileptic\nof twenty eight years on Epanutin and Phenobarbitone.\nOn examination, patient had obvious facial asymmetry,\nwith flattening of the left side of the face, elongation\nof the face and a depressed hollow in the preauricular\nareas bilaterally. There was also enamel fracture of 11.\nDiagnosis made was that of bilateral anterior TMJ\ndislocation. The dislocation was successfully treated\nusing the Hippocrates manouvre. No complication\nwas recorded.