Titanium screw implantation to the articular eminence for the treatment of chronic recurrent dislocation of the temporomandibular joint

In this report, the technical details of a new surgical technique are presented for the treatment of chronic recurrent dislocation of the temporomandibular joint. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. Two millimeters of skin incision is carried out 2-2.5cm below the articular eminence, and a tunnel is created above the superficial musculoaponeurotic plane toward the eminence. Then via a specially designed trocar, a 20mm titanium screw is implanted into the most prominent part of the eminence perpendicularly. Thereafter, the patient is told to actively open his/her mouth, and the luxation and position of the screw is checked with the C-arm fluoroscopy. Once the correct position is assured, the trocar is removed and the incision is sutured with 6/0 prolene.