Purpose: Condylar position can change after mandibular reconstruction using the free fibula flap. The present study evaluated changes in condylar position using computed tomography (CT) after mandibular reconstruction with condylar head preservation.
Materials and methods: This retrospective study consisted of 16 patients. CT data of 32 temporomandibular joints (TMJs) were recorded before surgery (T0), 7 to 10 days after surgery (T1), and 16.8 ± 7.4 months after surgery (T2). The anteroposterior condylar position was evaluated using the method of Pullinger and Hollender (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 62:719, 1986). Repeated-measures analysis of variance (P = .05) was performed.
Results: Data of 16 patients were obtained for statistical analysis. Condylar position changed over time after mandibular reconstruction. The ipsilateral condyles moved anteroinferiorly after surgery (T0 to T1) and tended to move anterosuperiorly during follow-up (T1 to T2). No major changes were noted in the contralateral condyles.
Conclusion: Condylar positions showed obvious changes over time after mandibular reconstruction with condylar preservation. Nevertheless, additional studies are warranted to further evaluate the relation between condylar position and TMJ function.
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