Low condylectomy as the sole treatment for active condylar hyperplasia: facial, occlusal and skeletal changes. An observational study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to measure the changes in facial, occlusal, and skeletal relationships in patients with active unilateral condylar hyperplasia whose sole treatment was a low condylectomy. A retrospective observational descriptive study was conducted. All patients had undergone a low condylectomy as the sole or initial surgical treatment. The size of the condylar segment removed was decided by matching the affected side with the healthy side, leaving them both like the healthy one. The length of the ramus was measured using panoramic X-ray (distance from the highest part of the condyle to the mandibular angle). Facial, occlusal, and skeletal changes were evaluated using clinical, photographic, and radiological records before and after surgery. Condylectomy as the sole treatment for patients with active condylar hyperplasia allowed improvements to the alterations produced by this pathology, such as chin deviation, tilted lip commissure plane, tilted occlusal plane, angle of facial convexity, unevenness of the mandibular angles, and length of the mandibular ramus. The occlusal relationship also improved with orthodontic and elastic therapy. To conclude, low condylectomy as a sole and aetiological treatment for patients with active condylar hyperplasia allowed improvements to alterations produced by this pathology.

Keywords: condylar hyperplasia; condylectomy; facial asymmetry; low condylectomy; mandibular condyle.