Effect of post-orthognathic surgery condylar axis changes on condylar morphology as determined by 3-dimensional surface reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of postoperative condylar axis changes on mandibular condylar remodeling by comparing the condylar head in three-dimensional (3D) surface reconstructions before and after surgery in skeletal Class III deformities (one-jaw [mandibular setback] or two-jaw surgery), and also to determine the relationship between condylar inward rotation and condylar surface remodeling after orthognathic surgery.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted of 30 patients with skeletal Class III deformities who had received orthognathic surgery. Group 1 underwent one-jaw surgery (10 men, five women, age 22.4 ± 3.3 years), and group 2 underwent two-jaw surgery (10 men, five women, age 22.3 ± 2.2 years). Sixty condyles were reconstructed and superimposed pre- and postoperatively to compare the changes of condylar surfaces. The relation between the condylar axis change and the surface change using the Pearson correlation were investigated from the 3D image software.


RESULTS
Condylar surface changes before and after the surgery were significant. The postoperative inward rotation of the condyles was correlated with the average absolute deviation of the condyles, regardless of the surgery type (one- or 2-jaw surgery; r  =  .70, P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
After orthognathic surgery, condylar surface changes occurred, and condylar inward rotation was closely related to changes of condylar surface.
a  Postgraduate student, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University Dental Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea.
Soo-Bum
SB
An
Soo-Byung
SB
Park
Yong-Il
YI
Kim
Woo-Sung
WS
Son
D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000601:surgery*; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D063168:Mandibular Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012399:Rotation; D055815:Young Adult