3-D CT evaluation of condyle head position, mandibular width, and mandibular angle after mandibular setback surgery

Kim, Jae Won; Lee, Dong Hyun; Lee, Su Youn; Kim, Jae Hyun; Lee, Sang Han

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the change in condylar position, width, and angle before and after orthognathic surgery using 3-dimensional computed tomograph. Pre and posterative 3-D CT was taken on 38 patients and through axial, frontal, sagittal measurements and by 3-dimensional reconstruction, the changes in condylar postion, mandibular width and angle were analyzed and others such as the difference in gender, operation and fixation method, setback length and in relation with temporomandibular disorders were done together too. The results were as follows: The inward rotation of condyle in axial condylar angle, the forward movement of right condyle in sagittal anterior-posterior distance, the superior movement of both condyles in sagittal superior-inferior distance, the decrease in gonial angle, the increase in mandibular width, the decrease in distance between the axial coronoid process distance and the increase in the frontal intercondylar distance were statistically significant. There were no statistically significant changes in gender difference, however in the difference in operation method, change in the gonial angle was observed and there was more change in bilateral sagittal split osteotomy group compared to two-jaw surgery group. In the difference in fixation method, the decrease in axial coronoid process distance and the change in sagittal anterior-posterior distance were statistically significant. In the difference in setback, the increase in setback didn't relate directly with the increased change in condyle position. In the relation with temporomandibular disorder, changes in left axial condylar angle and axial coronoid process distance were statistically significant. Changes in condylar position could be observed after the orthognathic surgery but it doesn't seem to have much of a clinical importance. The orthognathic surgery is effective in decreasing the mandibular angle, and it is not related with the temporomandibular disorder.