Changes in condylar and joint disc positions after bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy for correction of mandibular prognathism

The effect of combined orthodontic and orthognathic treatment was studied retrospectively in 24 patients with skeletal class III malocclusions with mandibular hyperplasia, particularly the effect on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc position. The patients underwent preoperative orthodontic treatment, orthognathic surgery, and postoperative orthodontic treatment. The patients were studied clinically, radiographically with lateral cephalometric radiograph and MRI to locate the position of the TMJ disc in relation to the glenoid fossa. One patient had less pain after treatment, one lost abnormal joint clicking sounds after treatment. There were no TMJ symptoms in 20 of the 24 preoperatively and postoperatively. 48 sagittal MRI images showed that the disc length before treatment was 3.040–12.928 (mean 8.289 ± 2.028) and after treatment was 3.699–11.589 (mean 8.097 ± 1.966); results were not significant (p > 0.05). Maximum disc displacement before treatment was 6.090 (mean 1.383), after treatment it was 11.931 (mean 2.193); results were not significant (p > 0.05). The results suggest that combined orthodontic and orthognathic treatment (including bilateral SSRO and rigid internal fixation) can be used safely to correct skeletal class III malocclusion with mandibular hyperplasia without causing additional TMJ symptoms.