Evaluation of Condylar Position after Orthognathic Surgery for Treatment of Class II Vertical Maxillary Excess and Mandibular Deficiency by Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: In orthognathic surgeries, proper condylar position is one of the most important factors in postoperative stability. Knowing the condylar movement after orthognathic surgery can help preventing postoperative instabilities. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the condylar positional changes after Le Fort I maxillary superior repositioning along with mandibular advancement by using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 22 subjects who had class II skeletal malocclusion along with vertical maxillary excess. Subjects underwent maxillary superior repositioning (Le Fort I osteotomy) along with mandibular advancement. The CBCT images were taken a couple of days before the surgery (T0), and one month (T1) and 9 months (T2) after the surgery. The condyles positions were determined from the most superior point of the condyle to three distances including the deepest point of the glenoid fossa, the most anterior-inferior point of the articular eminence, and the most superior point of the external auditory meatus in the sagittal plane. RESULTS: The mean mandibular advancement was 4.33±2.1 mm and the mean maxillary superior repositioning was 4.66±0.3 mm. The condyles displaced inferiorly, anteriorly, and laterally between T0 and T1. They were repositioned approximately in the initial position in T2. No correlation was observed between the mandibular and maxillary movement and the condylar positions. CONCLUSION: The condyles displaced in the inferior-anterior-lateral position one month after the bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for mandibular advancement in combination with the maxillary Le Fort I superior repositioning. It seems that the condyles adapted approximately in their initial position nine months after the surgeries.

Is the frequency of temporomandibular dysfunction different in various mandibular fractures?

PURPOSE: Trauma has been considered an important factor of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) etiology. The aim of the present study was to compare the frequency of TMDs in various mandibular fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Mandibular fractures were subcategorized into 3 groups: group 1 had a unilateral condylar fracture, group 2 had a unilateral condylar fracture with a fracture of the contralateral body or angle of the mandible, and group 3 had a unilateral fracture of the body or angle of the mandible. TMD signs (click, pain) and maximum mouth opening (MMO) were the outcomes of the study, and fracture pattern was considered a predictor factor. Age, gender, and fixation methods were study variables. A χ(2) test was applied to compare TMD signs among groups. One-way analysis of variance was applied to compare MMO and age among groups. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients in the 3 groups were examined for TMD signs. Results showed that 54.54% of patients in group 1, 69.69% of patients in group 2, and 24.24% of patients in group 3 had click in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ; unilaterally or bilaterally). Analysis of the data showed a significant difference among groups (P < .05). According to the results, 24.24% of patients in group 1, 73.91% of patients in group 2, and 12.12% of patients in group 3 had pain at the TMJ (unilaterally or bilaterally). There was a significant difference among groups for pain (P < .05). Analysis of the data did not show any difference for MMO among groups (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Patients who had a condylar fracture and a contralateral angle or body fracture seemed to have more TMD signs than those with a unilateral fracture.

Reconstruction of human mandibular continuity defects with allogenic scaffold and autologous marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Mandibular continuity defects occur after tumor resection, maxillofacial injury, or osteomyelitis. In this clinical pilot study, we report a novel method for reconstruction of mandibular continuity defect by in vivo tissue engineering. In 3 patients with critical-size mandibular bone defects, the allogenic mandibular bone scaffold was customized, loaded by ex vivo expanded mesenchymal stem cells, and transplanted into the surgical defect site. According to the bone scintigraphy, vascularized bone was identified in 2 cases. In spiral computed tomography, normal bone healing without significant bone resorption was seen at the 2 viable grafts, but at the failed construction, there was a lack of osteointegration to the adjacent host bone and a higher density in the medullary bone. According to the serial panoramic imaging, the patients with viable bone grafts had normal bone healing, whereas the other patient had progressive overall bone resorption. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of allogenic bone scaffold loaded by mesenchymal stem cells in the reconstruction of mandibular continuity defects. Although long-term results are not yet available, it may be a novel method of reconstruction and a basis for further studies.