Changes in the condylar head after orthognathic surgery in Class III patients: a retrospective three-dimensional study.

Objectives: To evaluate the axial and dimensional changes of the condylar head after orthognathic surgery, including Le Fort I and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomies, and to assess condylar remodeling through three-dimensional (3D) surface superimposition.

Materials and methods: Twenty-four patients (15 females, 9 males; mean age: 32.22 ± 6.92 years) with skeletal Class III deformity were included in the study. Cone-beam computed tomography data obtained in the preoperative (T0) and postoperative (T1) periods were examined using Mimics and 3-Matic software. The height, depth, and width of the condylar head and its angular changes were measured. The volumes of the 3D reconstructed models were calculated, and remodeling amounts were evaluated through regional surface superimposition. Statistical significance was set at P < .05.

Results: Following the surgery, there was a significant decrease in the size of condyles (P < .05). An inward rotation of the condyles was found in the axial plane (T0: 79.60 ± 6.01°, T1: 76.6 ± 6.48°, P < .05). The maximum resorption, maximum apposition, mean remodeling, and mean absolute remodeling were -2.63 ± 1.23 mm, 1.15 ± 0.4 mm, -0.30 ± 0.34 mm, and 0.73 ± 0.43 mm, respectively. No correlation was found between the angular changes and remodeling parameters or linear and volumetric changes of the condylar head (P > .05).

Conclusions: Condyles undergo a remodeling process with a resorptive character following orthognathic surgery, without clinically significant effects in the present study.