53203 - Mandible Dislocation Treatment (Surgical)

The need for treatment of a mandibular dislocation requiring open reduction arises when a patient’s jaw dislocates severely—often from significant trauma or chronic instability—and cannot be manually repositioned due to muscle spasm, joint damage, or structural obstruction, necessitating surgical intervention under anesthesia in a hospital to access the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), reposition the mandible, and stabilize it. This procedure is indicated for complex dislocations unmanageable by non-invasive means, critical in the maxillofacial region where persistent misalignment impairs chewing, speech, and comfort.

Several scenarios highlight the necessity of this intervention:

• Severe trauma: A high-impact injury, such as a car accident, might dislocate the mandible and lock it out of place with fractured condyles or severe muscle contraction, requiring open surgery to realign it.
• Chronic dislocation: Repeated dislocations causing joint damage or fibrosis might prevent manual reduction, necessitating surgical access to free the joint and reposition the jaw.
• Structural obstruction: Bone fragments or soft tissue entrapment within the TMJ could block closed reduction, prompting an open approach to clear the obstruction and restore alignment.
• Functional loss: Prolonged inability to close the mouth or chew due to a stuck dislocation demands surgical correction to regain normal jaw mechanics.

For instance, a patient with a dislocated jaw from a sports injury, unresponsive to manual attempts due to intense muscle spasm, might require open reduction to surgically reposition it, performed under anesthesia for precision and patient comfort. In an aged care context, an elderly patient with a traumatic dislocation compounded by joint degeneration could need this to restore eating ability, adjusted for their frailty and potential comorbidities. By surgically accessing and repositioning the mandible, this service resolves complex dislocations, restores jaw function, and alleviates associated pain, making it an essential procedure for severe mandibular dislocations within the maxillofacial framework.

Corrects complex jaw dislocation, restores function, and relieves severe pain.

Recovery of 3-4 weeks with swelling, restricted jaw movement, and possible immobilization; hospital stay required.