Occlusal adjustment after local resection of type 1 condylar osteochondroma

To evaluate the feasibility of the orthodontic traction after local resection of the condylar osteochondroma (OC). From November 2011 to September 2016, consecutive patients with condylar OC who underwent orthodontic extraction after local resection of the mass were reviewed. Clinical data and cone-beam computed tomography (CT) were obtained before treatment (T0), 1 week after surgery (T1), and at least 6-month follow-up after OC resection (T2). Repeated-measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni multiple-comparison test was used to compare the 3-dimensional cephalometric variables at different time points and the paired t test was used to compare changes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) space between the 2 sides at T1 and T2. The sample consisted of 23 patients (16 females and 7 males). The mean postoperative follow-up interval was 10.9 months. No recurrence was observed during the postoperative follow-up period. Facial symmetry and occlusion were greatly improved. B deviation and the distance of gonion on the OC-affected side to the Frankfort horizontal (FH) were significantly improved from T0 to T1 and T2 (P < .01). The anterior space (AS) and superior space (SS) of the OC-affected side were significantly larger than that of the contralateral side at T1 in parasagittal CT views (P < .05), while no difference was found between the two sides at T2. Local resection is an effective technique with less damage to the condyle. The application of postoperative directional traction could guide the condyle into the fossa, achieve normal TMJ space and stable occlusion, and eventually provide functional and esthetic outcomes.