Coronoid process hyperplasia: a systematic review of the literature from 1995

The objective of this study was to review the literature and compare different surgical methods for the management of coronoid process hyperplasia. A literature search was performed for publications since 1995. Case characteristics were extracted (age, sex, duration of symptoms, form, maximal mouth opening and treatment) and entered into a database for analysis. The data were split into two groups (coronoidectomy and coronoidotomy). Maximal mouth opening measurements before and after surgery were analyzed with several statistical tests. 61 cases were entered into the database. The mean age was 23 years and mean duration of symptoms 7 years. The bilateral form occurred 4.1 times more frequently than the unilateral form. The male-female ratio was 3.3 to 1. In 94% of the cases the approach was intra-oral. 84% of the cases received a coronoidectomy. Statistical analysis showed that the preoperative and postoperative differences between the groups were significant. The results were not significant when corrected for the preoperative difference. Postoperative therapy was not comparable due to heterogeneity. Cases that received a coronoidotomy had slightly better postoperative results.