The need for secondary orthognathic surgery after high condylectomy in patients with active unilateral condylar...

The need for secondary orthognathic surgery (OS) after a high condylectomy (HC) in patients with active unilateral condylar hyperplasia was assessed in 25 patients, reviewing patient characteristics and treatment planning. At 6-12 months after HC, 13 patients (52%) required secondary OS. The amount of mandibular dental midline shift before the HC (P=0.037), and a dental crossbite that was present before the HC (P=0.017) were significantly associated with the need for secondary OS. Overall, the mandibular dental midline coincided with the facial midline in eight patients (32%) at 2 weeks after HC. In 16% of the patients, no additional OS was needed despite this being the initial treatment plan. Additionally, the initially planned type of secondary OS was modified in six other patients. Early HC in skeletally immature patients provided very good results, both aesthetic and functional, with only two of them needing supplementary OS at 6-12 months after HC. The HC remains a valuable treatment in patients with active unilateral condylar hyperplasia, as it can eliminate the need for secondary OS and is very well tolerated by most patients.