Open and Closed Reduction of Temporomandibular Joint Dislocation due to Tongue Cancer Operation / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) dislocation due to tongue cancer operation has a potential risk factor in that it may become a chronic anterior dislocation. In this regard, the treatment methods of TMJ dislocation are more complicated than that of the usual manual reduction therapy. To prevent the reduction procedure from becoming more complicated, clinicians should check the TMJ status afterward the head and neck operations. But, even with caution, chronic dislocation can happen. To restore normal jaw relation in these patients, one can be treated by manual reduction, open surgery under general anesthesia, and by fastening of additional intermaxillary fixations. Here we report two successfully treated cases of TMJ dislocations due to tongue cancer operation, one treated by the conservative method, and the other by the open surgery method.