MAINTENANCE OF THE PREOPERATIVE CONDYLE POSITION IN ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY

A bimaxillary osteotomy for mandibular prognathism and maxillary retro gnathia was performed on 30 patients with an Angle Class III malocclus ion. The Luhr condylar positioning device was used intraoperatively to reproduce the condylar position. Pre- and postoperative condylar posi tions were compared by recording joint movements with axiography. Step s, jags and jumps as symptoms of pathological joint function could not be identified. Only in one case could a pathological shortening of th e joint track length be measured. This suggests that the Luhr device i s effective in securing condyle position and therefore temporomandibul ar joint (TMJ) function. Pre- and postoperative axiography is an adequ ate method of controlling these results and a helpful supplement to th e armentarium of orthognathic surgery.