Intercondylar distance before and after mandible resection

PURPOSE: One of the goals of mandible resection and reconstruction is achieving optimal occlusion. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the pre- and post-operative condyle distances. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All computed tomography (CT) scans of 32 patients with a partial mandible resection who were treated between 2006 and 2011 were evaluated retrospectively. The distances between the condyle centres were measured before and after mandible resection. RESULTS: The preoperative intercondylar distance of the 32 patients was between 85.8 and 109.5 mm (median = 100.5 mm), and the post-operative distance was between 87.0 and 110.5 mm (median = 100.6 mm). There was no significant difference between pre- and post-operative distances. CONCLUSION: Reconstruction plates and bony reconstructions do not significantly change the intercondylar distance.