Condylar luxation following bilateral intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy

The intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO) is widely used to treat mandibular prognathism and some forms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). This retrospective report evaluated the incidence of condylar luxation following bilateral IVRO.

Clinical records and radiographs of 319 patients seen during a 13-year period between 1992 and 2005 were evaluated. The mean age of the patients (232 females, 87 males) at the time of surgical procedure was 26.1 years. All patients underwent a bilateral IVRO to treat mandibular prognathism or TMD. Postoperatively, the condylar position was evaluated from lateral and anteroposterior cephalograms and tomograms of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

An IVRO was performed on 638 sides in 319 patients. In 8 sides in 8 patients, the proximal segments were dislocated, and the condylar heads were located beyond the articular eminence. One patient underwent a closed reduction under local anesthesia, and 4 patients underwent an open reduction under sedation or general anesthesia. The average follow-up period was 4.3 years (1.2-9 years). Six of the 8 patients did not complain of any TMJ dysfunction. The objective clinical evaluation also did not reveal any dysfunctional patterns. A TMJ click on the affected side was observed in 1 patient, and mandibular deviation to the affected side upon opening the mouth was observed in 1 patient.

Although condylar sag is a consistent finding after IVRO, the mandibular condyles tend to return their preoperative positions. In this study, condylar luxation was observed in 1.3% (8/638) of the joints after bilateral IVRO. However, there were no severe clinical problems in these patients during a relatively long follow-up period.