title: [Measurement of mandibular angle protrusion and semi-blind amputation of hypertrophied mandibular angle with the help of a pre-made mold].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mandibular hypertrophy is a subjective diagnosis to some extent. The authors tried to find a way for true objective diagnosis of mandibular hypertrophy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Radiographic cephalometry was performed in 39 randomly selected adults. The degree of the mandibular angle was measured and summarized. According to measurement of the mandibular angle and the extent to be amputated, we designed and made various molds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With this pre-made mold, we amputated semi-blindly and exactly the desirable size and shape of the mandibular angle. This technique has been used in 6 patients for mandibular amputation and masseter thinning. In three patients shaving of the out layer of the hypertrophied mandible was also done.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new technique using the pre-made operative mold shortens operating time, reduces surgical bleeding and tissue swelling, and can help to remove the bony block precisely.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Third Hospital, Beijing Medical University.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000601:surgery; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D011897:Random Allocation; D012015:Reference Standards; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods