Condylar positioning in sagittal split ramus osteotomy by the triangle method.
BACKGROUND
Several methods for maintaining the preoperative condyle position after mandibular ramus surgery have been suggested. But when applied, those have been proven to be uncomfortable and less practical; hence, maintaining preoperative condyle position has mainly relied on the operator's personal experience.


METHODS
We developed a new technique on the basis of the triangle's principle (namely the triangle method) for positioning of the condyle and applied it to 72 patients with sagittal split ramus osteotomy. We followed them for an average of 24.4 months.


RESULTS
None of the patients who were operated on using the triangle method had postoperative temporomandibular joint problems or relapses related to inappropriate temporomandibular joint position.


CONCLUSIONS
The triangle method for condylar positioning in the mandibular ramus osteotomy is a simple, reliable, cheap, and easy-to-learn tool for condylar positioning.
Baek
Rong-Min
RM
Department of Plastic Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 300 Gumi-dong, Dunfang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 463-707, Korea. ronbaek@snubh.org
Yoon
In-Mo
IM
D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods