Prolonged unilateral dislocation of the mandible.

A 61-year-old white woman dislocated her left condyle. She did not seek care for almost three years. In such a long-standing unilateral dislocation, Gottlieb reported that such extreme adhesions and accumulation of connective tissue develops in the joint cavity that actual reduction is impossible and that violent manipulation may lead to ankylosis. Therefore, in such cases, surgery (condylectomy) is indicated. This was done in our case with good functional results.