Morphometric Characterization of Asymmetric Mandibles due to Condylar Hyperactivity

Publication date: Available online 31 December 2018

Source: Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Author(s): S. Espinosa, C. Rabanal, V. Toro-Ibacache

Abstract

Purpose

Mandibular asymmetry due to Condylar Hyperactivity (CH) depicts a complex set of morphological features that pose challenges for its correction. Using state-of-the-art morphometric techniques, we provide a detailed and hierarchical description of the features present in CH-asymmetric mandibles, offering new knowledge for its surgical treatment.

Material and Methods

Sixty patients were included in the sample. Thirty had asymmetric mandibles due to CH and the other thirty were clinically symmetric individuals. Twenty-eight 3D landmarks were placed on CT-based reconstructions of each individual and analyzed using geometric morphometrics for the quantitative and qualitative comparison of their morphologic features.

Results

All sixty individuals were asymmetric. Those with CH however, depict a broad range of shapes, sharing even several morphological features with the controls. Mainly the ramus and then the body, were the main contributors of the differences between groups.

Conclusion

There is a considerable overlap of anatomical features characterizing both symmetric and asymmetric individuals; based on shape alone, both groups can be easily misclassified. The ramus and the body of the affected side in CH-asymmetric mandibles were the main contributors to the asymmetry of the structure. The chin, a usual diagnostic structure, did not greatly contribute to the structural asymmetry of the mandible.

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