ASSESSMENT OF CONDYLAR DISPLACEMENT AND CRANIOFACIAL CHANGE AFTER BIMAXILLARY SURGERY FOR SKELETAL CLASS III CORRECTION USING THE 3D CONE-BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Abstract

Bimaxillary surgery, a type of orthognathic surgery involving both maxilla and mandible, has been commonly performed in non-growing patients with severe skeletal class III malocclusion to correct skeletal discrepancies and enhance facial esthetics. Certain studies revealed that orthognathic surgical procedures may adversely affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and induce condylar displacement after surgery. However, the studies regarding this postoperative condylar displacement in Thai patients are still limited. Consequently, this study was conducted to evaluate condylar displacement and craniofacial changes after bimaxillary surgery for skeletal class III correction (i.e., Le Fort I osteotomy for maxillary advancement combined with bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy for mandibular setback). The position of condyle and craniofacial structures were measured from the presurgical and postsurgical cone-beam computed tomography images of all subjects, then compare the differences individually. The results demonstrated the statistically significant displacement of condyles in postero-infero-lateral direction on both sides (no significant differences between right and left condyles), as well as the significant changes of the craniofacial skeletal and soft-tissue components.