Temporomandibular Joint Herniation Research Articles

Hernie spontanée de l'articulation temporomandibulaire dans le conduit auditif externe

Objectives We report a rare case of spontaneous temporomandibular joint herniation into the external auditory canal. Material and methods A 42-year-old woman consulted for recurrent right otalgia. Results The clinical examination revealed a white mass of the anterior wall of the bony external auditory canal, very close to the tympanic annulus, which was replaced by an invagination of the skin of the canal when the patient opened her mouth, consistent with temporomandibular joint herniation into the external auditory canal. Conclusion Inflammatory, malignant, and traumatic lesions are known as potential causes of temporomandibular joint herniation into the external auditory canal. Spontaneous herniations are much rare, and to the best of our knowledge this is the 15th case reported in the literature. This anomaly results from a patent foramen of Huschke. Main symptoms consist in otalgia and tinnitus. In half of the cases, they are minor and no treatment is necessary.

Spontaneous Temporomandibular Joint Herniation into the External Auditory Canal: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Case report of a man presenting with spontaneous temporomandibular joint (TMJ) herniation into the external auditory canal (EAC). Case report and literature review. A case report of a patient with spontaneous TMJ herniation into the EAC is presented. The patient was a 41-year-old man complaining of tinnitus in his right ear. Examination revealed that the anterior wall of the bony EAC moved backward when the patient's mouth was closed and forward when opened, causing the resultant discomfort. In this case, surgery was performed, resulting in a good outcome with no complications. Thirteen other cases of spontaneous TMJ herniation into the EAC were found in the literature. Few cases of spontaneous TMJ herniation into the EAC have been reported; however, if surgical treatment is desired, we should comply with the patient's request.

Spontaneous herniation of the temporomandibular joint into the external auditory canal. A case report and literary review

Spontaneous temporomandibular joint herniation (TMJ) into the external auditory canal (EAC) is a rare disease, described for the first time in 1987 by Hawke et al. Only seven cases have been described since then. For this situation to occur, there must be a dehiscence between the posterior wall of the glenoid cavity and the anterior wall of the external auditory canal. Several causes can lead to this situation: trauma, neoplasia, infection or inflammatory processes. Histology studies of temporal bones demonstrated the presence of foramen of Huschke in about 7% of the adult population, a situation that can promote spontaneous herniation, as it favors the existence of dehiscence between the temporomandibular joint and the external auditory canal. Since symptoms are varied, diagnosis is by exclusion. Treatment is controversial, therefore, we believe that initially no intervention is necessary, and surgery should only be used when extreme symptoms are present. In this study, the authors describe a case report of spontaneous temporomandibular joint herniation into the external auditory canal and provide a literary review.