Left temporomandibular joint luxation causing open‐mouth jaw locking and a neurological disorder in a cat: A case report

Abstract Open‐mouth jaw locking, characterised by an inability to close the mouth, is uncommon in cats. A 4‐year‐old, entire, female domestic short‐haired cat presented with a wide‐open mouth after suspected high‐rise syndrome. Physical exam revealed right eye blindness and malocclusion with mandibular displacement. Computed tomography scans showed mandibular symphysis separation, ventrolateral displacement of the left mandibular coronoid process relative to the zygomatic arch, multiple fractures, including one involving the right palatine bone, which was in contact with the periocular soft tissues. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed no parenchymal abnormalities. Manual reduction and fixation of the mandibular symphysis were performed using circummandibular cerclage wires with a ventral twist technique. This report describes open‐mouth jaw locking in cats with associated neurological findings and right eye blindness, highlighting the clinical features, imaging diagnosis and treatment.