Does mandibular advancement ortho-surgical procedure cause condyle changes? A case-series analysis.

Area of Science:

• Orthognathic surgery
• Dental and maxillofacial surgery
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) research

Background:

• Mandibular advancement surgery is crucial for functional and aesthetic rehabilitation by correcting bone bases.
• The impact of this surgery on the stomatognathic system, particularly the mandibular condyles, remains under-explored.
• Understanding condylar changes is vital for assessing the long-term outcomes of orthognathic procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess structural and positional modifications of mandibular condyles after surgical mandibular advancement.
• To compare changes between the right and left mandibular condyles in patients undergoing this procedure.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study utilizing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans.
• Evaluation of seven patients with Angle Class II malocclusion and mandibular deficiency using Dolphin Imaging® software.
• Analysis of linear and angular measurements from pre-surgical and post-surgical (≥1 year) CBCT images.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences were observed in any of the evaluated condylar measurements.
• Both right and left mandibular condyles exhibited similar outcomes.
• The findings suggest a lack of structural or positional alteration in the condyles post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Surgical mandibular advancement does not appear to alter the structure or position of the mandibular condyles.
• The mandibular condyles demonstrate stability and adaptability following surgical intervention.
• Similar behavior between right and left condyles suggests predictable outcomes for TMJ structures.