A pilot study of the use of eminectomy in the treatment of closed lock.

There are many treatments described for closed lock of the temporomandibular joint. Eminectomy has been described in the treatment of recurrent dislocation of the jaw. The use of a 'true' eminectomy alone, as the treatment of closed lock has not been previously described. Eighteen patients, three male and 15 female, with a mean age of 28 years, underwent 22 eminectomy procedures. The mean follow-up period was 7 months, assessment was both subjective, using a retrospective Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and objective with measurement of the Inter Incisal Distance (IID). Overall the subjective improvement in symptoms was high with a score of 85.5 on a 100 mm VAS. The mean improvement in Inter Incisal Distance, was 17.9 mm a statistically significant result using a paired t test (p < 0.001).