Background: Based on own retrospective studies a condylar head add-on system for immediate, temporary reconstruction in patients undergoing ablative surgery requiring the removal of the manibular condyle has been developed in cooperation with the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the University of Tennessee, USA, and the Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (AO/ASIF).
Purpose: The design of the new condylar head add-on system and its use in an anatomical dissection study on a human cadaver are introduced and discussed. DESIGN AND FIRST EXPERIENCES: The condylar replacement is made of commercial pure titanium and is conceived as an add-on system. It consists of a reconstruction plate (2.4 Uni-LOCK-System) und an adaptable condylar head that can be fitted on either side. The offset of the condylar head in a medial direction allows anatomically correct positioning of the implant. The slanted oval head shall provide a large contact area while maintaining function of the mandibular joint. The height-adjustable positioning of the condylar head add-on with four different fixations plates facilitates an intraoperative vertical correction of the condylar head without necessary bending of a new reconstruction plate. A condylar head add-on used on both sides and combined with the frequently used 2.4 Uni-LOCK-plate benefits from reduced storekeeping and turns out to be advantageous from an economic point of view.
Perspective: An international, prospective multi-center study evaluating the intraoperative applicability of the new condylar head add-on system and its functional as well as aesthetic results during the first two postoperative years has started in September 2006.