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.
OS, a 65-year-old female trader presented\nwith a one year history of clicking sounds in the right\ntemporomandibular joint area on mastication. There\nwas no history of trauma, pain, swelling or any other\nsymptoms. Background medical history revealed that\nshe was a known hypertensive on medications. On\nexamination, it was discovered that the patient had\nbilateral TMJ clicking sounds on mandibular excursion.\nThere were no areas of swelling/depression or\ntenderness. Plain X-ray (TMJ views) showed anterior\ndislocation of the right mandibular condyle on opening.\nA diagnosis of chronic recurrent right TMJ dislocation\nwas made. She was treated with intraarticular injection\nof triamsinolone 40mg weekly for six weeks alongside\nphysiotherapy. There was improvement of symptoms\nand she did not present for follow up or with\nreoccurrence.