Posttraumatic Lateral Dislocation of Mandibular Condyle: A Proposed New Classification with Report of 14 Dislocated Condyles

Abstract

Lateral dislocation of the intact mandibular condyle is a relatively uncommon clinical condition. Since the first description and classification of these dislocations given by Allen and Young, few classification systems have been proposed in literature with incorporation of different patterns of dislocations identified over the years. We share our clinical experience of nine cases of such dislocations with 14 dislocated condyles, and on the basis of clinical and radiological findings coupled with the review of existing classification systems, we propose a new classification system which includes all the possible patterns of such dislocations overcoming the major shortcomings of preexisting classification systems identified by the authors.