The postcondylar cartilage graft--an evaluation of an alternative surgical method for the treatment of retrognathia.
Postcondylar cartilage grafts were used for 6 years to advance the mandible surgically in adolescent patients with retrognathia. Thirty-seven subjects were treated; of these, 30 were followed for more than 1 year and have been analyzed. Relapse occurred in 9, caused mainly by displacement of the graft. In the stable group temporomandibular joint changes were studied. Progressive calcification of the graft occurred and a normally functioning joint was established in the advanced position. Improvements in surgical technique--in particular, the fixation of the graft--produced consistent stability in the later cases.
D000293:Adolescent; D002356:Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000637:transplantation*; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D063173:Retrognathia / Q000601:surgery*; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology