Indications to the use of condylar repositioning devices in the surgical treatment of dental-skeletal class III.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this report was to compare the clinical and radiographic findings observed at the 12-month follow-up in 2 groups of 15 patients who underwent Le Fort I and bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for the correction of dental-skeletal Class III. In the first group, the condylar positioning devices were used, whereas in the second group, an alternative method was used for the intraoperative assessment of mandibular repositioning.


METHODS
All of the patients of our study in the immediate presurgical period were without temporomandibular joint disorders and with a normal anatomic relationship between condyle and fossae. The condyle position and morphology were examined at the 12-month follow-up through cephalometric measurements and the postsurgical findings in both groups were compared with those observed in the presurgical period.


RESULTS
In all of the 30 patients in our study, no relapse or postsurgical temporomandibular joint disturbance was observed at the 12-month follow-up. Variations in condyle position of more than 2 mm or 2 degrees were not observed in the 15 patients treated with condylar positioning devices. Changes in condyle position between 2 and 4 mm and 2 degrees and 4 degrees were observed in 6 of the 15 patients treated without the devices.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of condylar positioning devices can be avoided in patients with dental-skeletal Class III without presurgical temporomandibular dysfunction. The manual positioning of the mandibular condyle is easier, but it requires the utmost care and an experienced operator.
Renzi
Giancarlo
G
Maxillofacial Surgery Department, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. renzi.g@libero.it
Becelli
Roberto
R
Di Paolo
Carlo
C
Iannetti
Giorgio
G
D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000601:surgery*; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011859:Radiography; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*