title: Three-dimensional assessment of condylar surface changes and remodeling after orthognathic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to evaluate condylar surface changes and remodeling after orthognathic surgery using three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) imaging, including comparisons between the right and left sides and between the sexes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients (20 males and 20 females) who underwent multi-detector CT examinations before and after surgery were selected. Three-dimensional images comprising thousands of points on the condylar surface were obtained before and after surgery. For the quantitative assessment of condylar surface changes, point-to-point (preoperative-to-postoperative) distances were calculated using D processing software. These point-to-point distances were converted to a color map. In order to evaluate the types of condylar remodeling, the condylar head was divided into six areas (anteromedial, anteromiddle, anterolateral, posteromedial, posteromiddle, and posterolateral areas) and each area was classified into three types of condylar remodeling (bone formation, no change, and bone resorption) based on the color map. Additionally, comparative analyses were performed between the right and left sides and according to sex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean of the average point-to-point distances on condylar surface was 0.11±0.03 mm. Bone resorption occurred more frequently than other types of condylar remodeling, especially in the lateral areas. However, bone formation in the anteromedial area was particularly prominent. No significant difference was found between the right and left condyles, but condylar surface changes in males were significantly larger than in females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed that condylar remodeling exhibited a tendency towards bone resorption, especially in the lateral areas. Condylar surface changes occurred, but were small.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Radiation, Applied Life Science Major, College of Medicine, and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo-Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Myung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Hoe
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Suk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sam-Sun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Choi
keywords: Bone Remodeling; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Mandibular Condyle; Multidetector Computed Tomography