Radiographic assessment of the condylar position after Le Fort I osteotomy in patients with asymptomatic temporomandibular joints: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
A prospective radiographic study analyzed condylar position in patients who had undergone orthodontic treatment and isolated maxillary advancement after Le Fort I osteotomy.


METHODS
Eleven patients were selected and radiographic images were taken in the immediate preoperative, immediate postoperative (1-2 weeks), and late postoperative periods (minimum of 6 months). Tracings were done on acetate paper for the submento-vertex radiograph, to measure the axial angulation of the condyles, and for the tomographic images of both sides, in the maximal intercuspation, rest position, and maximal opening, for the 3 periods. Linear measurements were taken for the tomograms over the posterior, superior, and anterior articular spaces. These images with the tracings were digitized and measured by means of computer software (UTHSCSA Image Tool 3.0; University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX), after it had been adequately calibrated.


RESULTS
The analysis of variance (ANOVA; 5% of significance) demonstrated 1) that there was no statistically significant difference for the linear measurements of the articular spaces in any of the periods, and 2) also not for the angular measure of the condyles (P > .05). In the maximal opening, there was a significant difference for the immediate postoperative period for both sides (P = .003).


CONCLUSIONS
Le Fort I osteotomy for maxillary advancement did not cause any significant changes in this specific group of patients evaluated.
Cortez
Andre Luis Vieira
AL
Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Passeri
Luis Augusto
LA
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006801:Humans; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000601:surgery*; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed