1986 Volume 32 Issue 2 Pages 262-268
The changes in the position of the temporomandibular joint after orthognathic surgery were examined by estimating the condylar angulation in the transverse plane. The condylar angulation was measured using xeroradiography obtained from submentovertical projection. 6 cases of sagittal splitting ramus osteotomy and 3 cases of Le Fort I osteotomy were enrolled in this study.
The results obtained were as follows.
1) The condylar angulation in patients received sagittal splitting ramus osteotomy increased significantly soon after operation and then showed a tendency to gradually decrease with time.
2) Among cases of sagittal splitting ramus osteotomy, the condylar angulation in 2 cases which had a large difference between right and left movementas of the mandibula decreased at the side of larger movement.
3) The condylar angulation in cases of Le Fort I osteotomy should almost no change after operation.
From these results, it was suggested that a monitoring of the condylar angulation after orthognathic surgery are very useful for evaluating the postoperative course.
