Temporomandibular joint dislocation reduction technique: a new external method vs. the traditional.

Abstract

The traditional intraoral approach for temporomandibular joint dislocations reduction, although effective, has some disadvantages. Here, a new extraoral approach is described. This study was performed to evaluate this new method's success rate. Patients visiting an emergency room were randomly allocated to 2 groups; one group was reduced with the extraoral approach and the other with the intraoral method. Among 29 attempts with the conventional method, 25 were successful (86.2%; 95% confidence interval: 73-100) and among 29 attempts with the external method, 16 were successful (55.2%; 95% confidence interval: 39-79). This difference was statistically significant. Because of the benefits of the external approach, such as avoiding hand bites and disease transfer, it can be a reasonable choice to reduce a dislocated temporomandibular joint.