[Morphologic changes in the mandibular condyle under the action of extraoral traction]

The experiment was performed in 29 mongrel dogs in the periods from second dentition to final occlusion formation. The mandibular traction was applied for 3, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days, the restitutional period lasted for 45 days. At early stages of the traction the active cartilage and osseous tissue structuration was noted in the condylus. The late period displayed the suppression of the cartilage growth and increased ossification of cartilage zone with prevalent secondary type, atypical of the condylar cartilage. This resulted in the cartilage ossification around the dilated blood vessels and delayed primary trabeculae formation at the ossification border. With the traction released, a tendency to normal cartilage osteogenesis was evident, though the width and structure of the cartilage zone of the condylus were not fully restored.