The significance of an erroneous recording of the centre of mandibular rotation in orthognathic surgery.

The effect of post-operative jaw position of an error in locating the true centre of mandibular rotation was evaluated using a computer-simulation model and a mock surgery model. The centre of the condyle serves as a reference point in surgical procedures involving the maxilla. The purpose of this study was to describe the amount of malpositioning of the jaws at surgery due to a discrepancy between a simulated true centre of rotation and the centre of the condyle. The results showed, that a 20 mm error in location of the true centre of rotation could result in a 3 mm horizontal malpositioning of the maxilla.