Temporomandibular Joint Dislocation at the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to evaluate demographic and clinical characteristics of the emergency department (ED) cases with a diagnosis of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation alongside the patient management of these cases. METHODS: Our single-center and retrospective study was conducted at the ED of Eskisehir Osmangazi Health, Practice and Research Hospital in 10 years and 10 months (01.01.2010-30.10.2020). All 18 years and older patients diagnosed with TMJ dislocation at the ED during the studied period were included in the study. The information on demographics, dislocation type and mechanism, medical history of repeated dislocation, imaging, application of reduction, reduction outcome, and necessity of sedo-analgesia were obtained from the patients' records. The lack of data required for analysis in the records was taken as an exclusion criterion. RESULTS: When the file records were examined 113 cases were diagnosed with TMJ dislocation in ED. 66 cases were primary admissions and 47 cases were recurrent admissions of these cases. Primary applications are evaluated; the mean age was 42.74+-20.83 and 69.7%(n=46) were women. The joint dislocation was present in 56.1%(n=37) bilaterally. 98.5%(n=65) of them were non-traumatic. When all the cases were evaluated, it was determined that 91.2%(n=103) did not perform radiological imaging. During reduction, it was observed that sedo-analgesia was applied in 13.3%(n=15) cases. It was observed that 98.2%(n=111) of the reduction applications resulted successfully. No complication records of the cases were found. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Management of TMJ dislocation is important for patient comfort and joint function. Emergency physicians successfully manage acute TMJ dislocation, which they rarely encounter.

Keywords

• temporomandibular joint
• dislocation
• reduction.