CONDYLAR RESORPTION IN ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY - THE ROLE OF INTERMAXILLARY FIXATION

Condylar resorption that occurs after orthognathic surgery was investi gated in a large sample of patients treated in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Free University in Amsterdam, the Net herlands. The findings correspond with previous publications on this s ubject. In a 1-year follow-up study the role of intermaxillary fixatio n was investigated radiologically. In a group of 158 patients prone to show occurrence of condylar resorption, 24 (26.4%) of the 91 patients treated with intermaxillary fixation showed signs of condylar resorpt ion. In the group of 67 patients treated without intermaxillary fixati on only eight (11.9%) of the patients showed signs of reduced volume o f the condyle. Avoidence of intermaxillary fixation seems to reduce th e incidence of condylar resorption after orthognathic surgery in patie nts with a mandibular deficiency with high mandibular plane angle.