Facial growth after condylectomy and alloplastic condylar replacement.

Condylectomy or condylectomy with immediate alloplastic condylar replacement was performed in six young and six adult rhesus monkeys to investigate the role of the mandibular condyl in facial growth. The experimental findings support the hypothesis that the condyle does not have a primary influence on mandibular growth and that alterations in biomechanics are mainly responsible for the observed alterations in mandibular morphology after condylectomy.