International Journal of Dentistry Research 2017; 2(2): 36-39 DOI:10.31254/dentistry.2017.2204

Research Article

Assessment of clinical and radiographic changes of the mandibular condyle following orthognathic surgery

Fahime Akhlaghi¹ , Anahita Khayampour² , Mohammad Hosein Kalantar Motamedi³ , Zahra Danial⁴

Fahime Akhlaghi,Anahita Khayampour,Mohammad Hosein Kalantar Motamedi,Zahra Danial

1. Associate Professor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti Medical Sciences University, Tehran, Iran
2. Chief Resident, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shahid Beheshti Medical Sciences University, Dental School, Tehran, Iran
3. Professor of Trauma Research Center, Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Dept. Craniofacial Trauma Research Center Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
4. Trauma Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences and Allameh Tabataba’i University, Faculty of Psychology & Educational Science Dehkadeh-ye-Olympic Dehkadeh-ye-Olympic, Tehran, Iran

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 30th January, 2017 / Accepted: 10th June, 2017 / Published : 31st August, 2017

Abstract

Aim: Changes of the mandibular condyle are unwanted and unpredictable complications of orthognathic surgery. This pilot study investigated the prevalence and severity of mandibular condylar changes after orthognathic surgery. Materials and Method: In this prospective study 20 patients with class II and III malocclusion who needed orthognathic surgery were evaluated. Ramus height, condylar width, joint pain, overjet and overbite, angular changes on lateral cephalogram, maximal mouth opening, maxillary and mandibular movements before and 6 months after surgery were assessed. Results: In this study condylar atrophy was radiographically evident on panoramic radiographs of 6 (30%) of the patients; one patient was treated for class II malocclusion and the other 5 were treated for class III malocclusion. Conclusion: This study showed radiographically evident condylar atrophy in 30% after surgery; however none had any related clinical signs or symptoms. None of the cases that developed condylar atrophy postsurgery correlated significantly with the variables assessed in this short term pilot study. Further studies and longer follow-up is needed to validate the results.