To be on the safe side, I washed it through, though because the rootball was so dense, there's still a bit of soil in it. However, it's mostly small bits of bark, and there's really no sign or smell of rotting. I washed it through gently with ordinary water and also with a weak hydrogen peroxide solution, in case anything was lurking, then let it dry off and repotted it in Westland Citrus Compost, with a layer of crocks in the bottom. There's one small leaf bursting out of a branch, and most of the branches are actually green, so I trimmed off the dead ones and have put it somewhere bright, as you suggested - and will await the consequences.

What size pot did you repot in, the same one or larger?

If the same one, then unwind the roots and trim them; if larger then just unwind (and trim only if need to, but if it's that root bound it could probably use some).

I repotted a plant once that was very root bound and just stuck it into a larger pot. The plant died. After it died and I unpotted it, I found that all of the roots were still in a ball just like I had placed them. The plant's roots were never able to escape out of the tangled root ball to get into the new soil.

After that incident, I always loosen the roots when they circle around in the pot.

But since you say that "the rootball was so dense" I'd probably spread them and trim them just a little if they need it when you get your pretty new pot. But keep a good watch on it now.

It sounds like you take really good care of your plant. Root health is a good indicater of care.

Greeneye, how are you getting on?