Case report of recurrent temporomandibular joint open lock associated with abrupt reduction of displaced articular disk

Patient: This report describes the case of a 51-year-old male patient who initially presented at age 23 with a habitual intermittent open lock (at > 35 mm) in the left temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The patient was able to manage this affliction through rapid-repetition jaw opening and closing. Tomography of the joint showed no irregular morphology, but intraoral examination revealed an occlusal interference at the mandibular left third molar during leftwards excursion. For this patient, alteration of lateral guidance using a palatal plate attached to the maxillary left canine precluded this intermittent open lock, but at 22 years of age, the open lock recurred and could not be relieved by the patient, who was unable to assume an occlusal position. Because conservative treatment was ineffective, a pumping manipulation technique was applied to reduce the open lock, after which the patient has maintained good jaw function. MRI taken before and after repositioning indicated that abrupt reduction of a displaced articular disk was the cause of the open lock, and that this articular disk was restored to its proper position during the manipulation.
Discussion: Most TMJ open locks occur as anterior dislocation, where the mandibular head becomes trapped anterior to the articular eminences, causing excessive opening and difficulty closing. Our clinical findings from this patient indicate that open lock can occur through abrupt reduction of a displaced articular disk, particularly in patients with chronic internal derangement of the TMJ.
Conclusion: TMJ open lock can occur following abrupt reduction of a displaced articular disk.

© 2014. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/