Proposed radiographic protocol for central superior mandibular condyle dislocation into the middle cranial fossa: apropos of a case

Abstract

Some difficulties have been described in the diagnosis of a number of reported cases of central superior mandibular condyle dislocation, which involves intracranial penetration of the mandibular condyle. Given that radiology plays an important role in detecting this condition, we herein propose an imaging diagnostic protocol for the management of suspicious superior mandibular condyle dislocation to identify this condition and properly evaluate the damaged tissues. We make reference to the case of a 13-year-old girl, who presented at the age of 7 years with a superior dislocation of the left condyle, which was clinically diagnosed as a probable temporomandibular joint ankylosis.