Positional and morphologic changes of the mandibular condyle after mandibular distraction osteogenesis in skeletal class II patients.
OBJECTIVE
Mandibular distraction osteogenesis has been used to correct the skeletal problems in patients with severe mandibular deficiency. Short-term effects of mandibular distraction osteogenesis on condylar position, condylar morphology, and temporomandibular joint symptoms in patients with severe skeletal Class II malocclusions were evaluated.


METHODS
The records of 13 patients who had undergone bilateral mandibular lengthening and/or midline mandibular widening were analyzed. Pre- and postoperative positional changes of the mandibular condyle in the glenoid fossa, the axial rotation of the condylar head, and the temporomandibular joint symptoms were evaluated.


RESULTS
Most of the condyles were displaced in an upward and backward direction in the glenoid fossa; the amount correlated with the amount of mandibular lengthening. Resorption was observed in 20% of condyles; the incidence of the resorption correlated with incidence of preoperative articular disc displacement and with the amount of condylar displacement.


CONCLUSIONS
Distraction protocols should be performed with particular attention when patients with articular disc displacement require a large amount of distraction.
Azumi
Yuko
Y
Department of Oral Health and Development Sciences, Tohoku University, Graduate School of Dentistry, Sendai, Japan.
Sugawara
Junji
J
Takahashi
Ichiro
I
Mitani
Hideo
H
Nagasaka
Hiroshi
H
Kawamura
Hiroshi
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000601:surgery*; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012399:Rotation; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed