Unilateral temporomandibular joint dislocation with pronounced pain syndrome in a young woman: a clinical case

Abstract

Introduction: Temporomandibular joint disorders affect a significant segment of the population, disrupting their daily activities and well-being. It is extremely important to diagnose these conditions promptly and treat them thoroughly, using both proven and modern methods that are increasingly promising. Clinical case: We present the case of a 20-year-old female student of “Kinesiotherapy” at the Faculty of Public Health, Healthcare and Tourism at the National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski” in Sofia. During clinical classes, the student experiences severe pain when opening her mouth wide and is unable to close it due to a blockage/locking of the jaw. She experienced severe pain and was unable to close her mouth due to a blockage/luxation of the right temporomandibular joint (TMJ). She was immediately referred to a nearby doctor’s office for adequate medical care, which comprised manual repositioning of the luxated joint. The case was followed up over time, with the patient being referred for consultation and examination by a maxillofacial surgeon. During the medical history interview, it was established that the patient suffered from bruxism and wore a mouth guard while sleeping. Other colleagues had advised her to undergo acupuncture therapy. She was recommended conservative treatment, including rest, avoidance of solid food during the acute period, muscle relaxants, and the application of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in gel form to the skin around the affected joint. She was also prescribed oral coxibs (Arcoxia and Aflamil). Three months after treatment, she had not experienced any further similar incidents or complaints. Conclusion: It is extremely important to provide affected individuals with timely, rapid, and adequate assistance, guidance on follow-up treatment and prevention, and ongoing support to prevent similar cases in the future. The simultaneous development of dysfunctional disorders in the joint along with inflammatory or chronic degenerative diseases must not be neglected.