Condylar positioning changes following unilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy in patients with mandibular prognathism

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate three-dimensional positional change of the condyle using three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) following unilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (USSRO) in patients with mandibular prognathism. METHODS: This study examined two patients exhibiting skeletal class III malocclusion with facial asymmetry who underwent USSRO for a mandibular setback. 3D-CT was performed before surgery, immediately after surgery, and 6 months postoperatively. After creating 3D-CT images by using the In-vivo 5™ program, the axial plane, coronal plane, and sagittal plane were configured. Three-dimensional positional changes from each plane to the condyle, axial condylar head axis angle (AHA), axial condylar head position (AHP), frontal condylar head axis angle (FHA), frontal condylar head position (FHP), sagittal condylar head axis angle (SHA), and sagittal condylar head position (SHP) of the two patients were measured before surgery, immediately after surgery, and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: In the first patient, medial rotation of the operated condyle in AHA and anterior rotation in SHA were observed. There were no significant changes after surgery in AHP, FHP, and SHP after surgery. In the second patient, medial rotation of the operated condyle in AHA and lateral rotation of the operated condyle in FHA were observed. There were no significant changes in AHP, FHP, and SHP postoperatively. This indicates that in USSRO, postoperative movement of the condylar head is insignificant; however, medial rotation of the condylar head is possible. Although three-dimensional changes were observed, these were not clinically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that although three-dimensional changes in condylar head position are observed in patients post SSRO, there are no significant changes that would clinically affect the patient.