Introduction: Condylar hyperplasia is a persistent non-neoplastic growth of the mandibular condyle beyond the normal age limit with the development of varying degrees of facial asymmetry.
Objective: The study was to evaluate clinical and radiological parameters in patients diagnosed with condylar hyperplasia.
Patients and methods: Retrospective study contemplating 13 patients diagnosed with active unilateral horizontal condylar hyperplasia confirmed through complete clinical, radiographic, scintigraphic and histopathological evaluation between the years 2000 and 2007. All patients underwent condylectomy as their only surgical treatment.The following parameters were evaluated:1 – Chin deviation and unevenness of the commissures using frontal facial photographs. 2 – Pre and post-operative facial convexity angle using profile facial photographs. 3 – Deviation of the skeletal chin, unevenness of the mandibular angles and occlusal plane tilt using antero-posterior radiographies. 4 – Facial depth angle using profile teleradiography. 5 – Condylar unit magnitude and mandibular ramus longitude using orthopantomography. 6 – Deviation of dental middle lines, ipsilateral and contralateral transversal occlusal relationship, overjet and overbite using intraoral frontal photography in occlusion.
Results: There were significant differences ( p > 0.05) between pre and post-operative measurements. After surgery, measurements of dental as well as skeletal asymmetries decreased when compared to initial measurements.
Conclusion: As an only surgical treatment, condylectomy is able to stop excessive condyle growth. This is subject to the absence of major dento-maxillary dismorfosis. If the patient’s skeletal condition required it, the treatment could include a differed orthognathic surgery.
Conflict of interest: None declared.