A Case of Spontaneous Temporomandibular Joint Herniation into the External Auditory Canal with Clicking Sound.

Author: Tae Hyun KIM ¹ ; Sun Kyu LEE ; Su Jin KIM ; Jae Yong BYUN
Author Information

1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea. otorhino512@naver.com
Publication Type:Case Report
Keywords: Huschke's foramen; Temporomandibular joint; Tinnitus
MeSH: Aminocaproic Acids; Ear Canal; Humans; Inflammation; Mouth; Temporomandibular Joint; Tinnitus
From:Korean Journal of Audiology 2013;17(2):90-93
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: A bony defect of the external auditory canal (EAC) and herniation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can be caused by tumorous conditions, inflammation, trauma, and otologic procedures. Spontaneous TMJ herniation into the EAC can be caused by a congenital bony defect known as patent Huschke's foramen, which is a very rare condition. In our case, an objective clicking sound was produced when the patient opened his mouth. A protruding mass was found in the anterior wall of the EAC during mouth closing, and herniation of the TMJ was confirmed with computed tomography. Therefore, we thought the clicking sound of our case could have resulted from spontaneous TMJ herniation through the patent foramen of Huschke.