A 19 year old man presents to the Emergency Department with a history of "jaw pain" and trismus after yawning. You suspect an anterior temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation. Which of the following is a risk factor for TMJ dislocation?
Dislocation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an infrequent presentation to the ED. Approximately 90% of all cases are bilateral and anterior, and the most common cause found in one survey was excessive mouth opening whilst yawning.
The mandibular condyle of the mandible articulates with the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone forming the temporomandibular joints. The temporomandibular joint is split into two sections by an articular disc, a fibrocartilaginous structure that enables a greater range of movement of the joint.
Temporomandibular dislocations may be unilateral or bilateral and occur in anterior, posterior, lateral and superior positions. The anterior is by far the most common, the others all being associated with a fracture of either the mandible or base of the skull.
Temporomandibular Joint. (Image by OpenStax College [CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)
Anterior dislocation may be traumatic or atraumatic; in trauma it is normally caused by direct downward force to a partially opened mouth.
In predisposed patients with shallow mandibular fossae or underdeveloped mandibular condyles, certain repeated activities may initially sublux, then dislocate, the mandible. The most common mechanism relates to excessive opening of the mouth when:
Connective tissue disorders, such as Marfan's and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, increase likelihood of dislocation. Once the mandible has dislocated anteriorly, spasm of the masseter and pterygoid muscles occurs which further traps the dislocated condyle.
Discharge advice must include:
An encircling bandage (Barton bandage) to support the mandible is usually unnecessary unless the patient is unable to understand or comply with discharge advice.
All patients should be followed up by a maxillofacial specialist.
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Biochemistry | Normal Value |
---|---|
Sodium | 135 – 145 mmol/l |
Potassium | 3.0 – 4.5 mmol/l |
Urea | 2.5 – 7.5 mmol/l |
Glucose | 3.5 – 5.0 mmol/l |
Creatinine | 35 – 135 μmol/l |
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) | 5 – 35 U/l |
Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) | < 65 U/l |
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) | 30 – 135 U/l |
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) | < 40 U/l |
Total Protein | 60 – 80 g/l |
Albumin | 35 – 50 g/l |
Globulin | 2.4 – 3.5 g/dl |
Amylase | < 70 U/l |
Total Bilirubin | 3 – 17 μmol/l |
Calcium | 2.1 – 2.5 mmol/l |
Chloride | 95 – 105 mmol/l |
Phosphate | 0.8 – 1.4 mmol/l |
Haematology | Normal Value |
---|---|
Haemoglobin | 11.5 – 16.6 g/dl |
White Blood Cells | 4.0 – 11.0 x 109/l |
Platelets | 150 – 450 x 109/l |
MCV | 80 – 96 fl |
MCHC | 32 – 36 g/dl |
Neutrophils | 2.0 – 7.5 x 109/l |
Lymphocytes | 1.5 – 4.0 x 109/l |
Monocytes | 0.3 – 1.0 x 109/l |
Eosinophils | 0.1 – 0.5 x 109/l |
Basophils | < 0.2 x 109/l |
Reticulocytes | < 2% |
Haematocrit | 0.35 – 0.49 |
Red Cell Distribution Width | 11 – 15% |
Blood Gases | Normal Value |
---|---|
pH | 7.35 – 7.45 |
pO2 | 11 – 14 kPa |
pCO2 | 4.5 – 6.0 kPa |
Base Excess | -2 – +2 mmol/l |
Bicarbonate | 24 – 30 mmol/l |
Lactate | < 2 mmol/l |
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