Condylar resorption in orthognathic surgery: a retrospective study.

A retrospective study was performed to examine the occurrence of condylar atrophy in connection with orthognathic surgery. Patients with high-angle mandibular deficiency (n = 29) were selected from among those who underwent bimaxillary osteotomy (n = 93) during the period from January 1987 through December 1990. This group of 29 was examined for shortening of the ascending ramus of the mandible because of condylar resorption. In 9 of these 29 (31%), the ramus had resorbed more than 2 mm, or more than 6% of the total length of the ramus. All 9 of these patients were female. There was no correlation between resorption and age, the amount of retrognathism, or the presence of preoperative temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Female patients with high-angle retrognathism should be informed of the possibility of postoperative condylar resorption and should be followed with radiographic controls for at least 2 years after surgery.