Digital cutting guide and endoscopically-assisted vertical ramus osteotomy to treat condylar osteochondroma: a long-term study

Intraoral Condylectomy with 3D-Printed Cutting Guide versus with Surgical Navigation: An Accuracy and Effectiveness Comparison

This study compares the accuracy and effectiveness of our novel 3D-printed titanium cutting guides with intraoperative surgical navigation for performing intraoral condylectomy in patients with mandibular condylar osteochondroma (OC). A total of 21 patients with mandibular condylar OC underwent intraoral condylectomy with either 3D-printed cutting guides (cutting guide group) or with surgical navigation (navigation group). The condylectomy accuracy in the cutting guide group and navigation group was determined by analyzing the three-dimensional (3D) discrepancies between the postoperative computed tomography (CT) images and the preoperative virtual surgical plan (VSP). Moreover, the improvement of the mandibular symmetry in both groups was determined by evaluating the chin deviation, chin rotation and mandibular asymmetry index (AI). The superimposition of the condylar osteotomy area showed that the postoperative results were very close to the VSP in both groups. The mean 3D deviation and maximum 3D deviation between the planned condylectomy and the actual result were 1.20 ± 0.60 mm and 2.36 ± 0.51 mm in the cutting guide group, and 1.33 ± 0.76 mm and 4.27 ± 1.99 mm in the navigation group. Moreover, the facial symmetry was greatly improved in both groups, indicated by significantly decreased chin deviation, chin rotation and AI. In conclusion, our results show that both 3D-printed cutting-guide-assisted and surgical-navigation-assisted methods of intraoral condylectomy have high accuracy and efficiency, while using a cutting guide can generate a relatively higher surgical accuracy. Moreover, our cutting guides exhibit user-friendly features and simplicity, which represents a promising prospect in everyday clinical practice.

Clinical Application of Individualized 3D-Printed Templates in the Treatment of Condylar Osteochondroma

BACKGROUND

Osteochondroma (OC) is one of the most common benign tumors of the long bones, but it rarely occurs in the maxillofacial skeleton. However, mandibular condylar OC often leads to severe facial deformity in affected patients, including facial asymmetry, deviation of the chin, and malocclusion. This study aimed to explore the clinical application of individualized 3D-printed templates to accurately and effectively treat condylar OC.

METHODS

A total of 8 patients with mandibular condylar OC were treated from July 2015 to August 2021. The enrolled patients (5 women and 3 men) had a median age of 27 years (range: 21-32 years). All patients exhibited symptoms of facial asymmetry and occlusal disorders preoperatively. The digital software used to virtually design the process consisted of three-dimensional reconstruction, 3D-cephalometry analysis, virtual surgery, individualized templates, and postoperative facial soft-tissue prediction. A set of 3D-printed templates (DOS and DOT) were used in all cases to stabilize the occlusion and guide the osteotomy. Then, pre- and post-operative complications, mouth opening, clinical signs, and the accuracy of the CT imaging analysis were all evaluated. All the measurement data were presented as means ± SD; Bonferroni and Tamhane T2 multiple comparison tests were used to examine the differences between the groups.

RESULTS

All patients healed uneventfully. None of the patients exhibited facial nerve injury at follow-up. In comparing the condylar segments with T0p and T1, the average deviation of the condylar segments was 0.5796 mm, indicating that the post-operative reconstructed condyles showed a high degree of similarity to the reconstruction results of the virtual surgical plan.

CONCLUSIONS

Individualized 3D-printed templates simplified surgical procedures and improved surgical accuracy, proving to be an effective method for the treatment of patients with slight asymmetric deformities secondary to condylar OC.

Surgical Guides and Prebent Titanium Improve the Planning for the Treatment of Dentofacial Deformities Secondary to Condylar Osteochondroma

PURPOSE

To investigate current Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technologies applied in the treatment of dentofacial deformities secondary to condylar osteochondroma and introduce a modified method with additional pre-bent titanium miniplates to improve the accuracy of operation.

METHODS

Literature review about the application of CAD/CAM in the treatment of condylar osteochondroma and secondary dentofacial deformities was conducted. And 8 patients with condylar osteochondroma and secondary dentofacial deformities were treated by the CAD/CAM cutting and drilling surgical guides as well as pre-bent titanium miniplates. Pre- and post-operative 3D-cephalometric measurement were recorded and the difference between virtual simulation and postoperative modeling images was measured. Follow-up and radiographic examinations were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 17 studies (including 216 patients) about the application of CAD/CAM in the treatment of dentofacial deformities secondary to condylar osteochondroma have been reported since 2010, including the 8 present patients. In our study, all patients were satisfied with the surgical outcome, without obvious relapse or evidence of temporomandibular joint disorder or other complications during follow-up; all patients avoided condylar reconstruction and sagittal split of ramus osteotomy on the ipsilateral mandible side. Comparison between simulated plans and actual postoperative outcomes showed surgical simulation plan was accurately transferred to the actual surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of CAD/CAM cutting and drilling guides as well as pre-bent titanium plates could achieve more accurate and favorable outcomes, improving the clinical planning and surgical execution for patients with condylar osteochondroma and secondary dentofacial deformities.

Osteochondroma of the mandibular condyle: Indications for different surgical methods: A case series of 7 patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate and discuss the long-term outcomes of patients with condylar osteochondroma managed through 3 different surgical techniques. Seven patients with condylar osteochondroma treated in the author's department from May 2012 to January 2019 were included in this retrospective study. Clinical evaluations (visual analogue scale for TMJ pain, jaw function, symmetry, and quality of life), maximum interincisal opening (MIO) and radiological findings were collected pre- and postoperatively. Other parameters assessed included tumour size and location; complications and follow-up. Radical condylectomy with immediate total joint alloplastic reconstruction was performed in 4 patients, local excision in 2 patients and low condylectomy with concomitant orthognathic surgery in 1 patient. During an average follow-up period of 40,8 months no clinical or radiographic signs of recurrence were found. Average MIO increased from 25,5mm to 39,5mm at the longest follow up, and all clinical evaluations were greatly improved. In conclusion, the described surgical techniques appear valuable in the treatment of condylar osteochondroma. Local excision is indicated in tumor involving less than half the surface of the condylar head; radical condylectomy with immediate alloplastic total joint reconstruction is indicated in gigantic lesion compromising the anatomical components and function of the joint. Orthognathic surgery procedures should be combined with tumor resection when correction of associated dentofacial deformities is indicated.

Endoscopic surgery versus open reduction treatment of mandibular condyle fractures: A meta-analysis

The aim of the study was to compare open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) and endoscopic open reduction with internal fixation (EORIF) of condylar fractures (CF) in adults in terms of reducing both needing of reoperation and/or facial nerve injury. An electronic search was undertaken (PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and The Cochrane Library). The inclusion criteria were full text, published from their inception to June 2020, clinical trials, randomized or not, and retrospective studies, that compared ORIF and EORIF. The estimates of an intervention were expressed as the risk ratio (RR). From the 1338 articles found, 5 publications were included. There was no statistically significant difference between ORIF and EORIF regarding needing of reoperation (RR = 2.46, p = 0.42) or facial nerve injury (RR = 0.45, p = 0.14). Meta-analysis suggests that there is no difference between open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) and endoscopic open reduction with internal fixation (EORIF) of condylar fractures (CF) regarding facial nerve injury risk or need for reoperation.

A new method for individual condylar osteotomy and repositioning guides used in patients with severe deformity secondary to condylar osteochondroma

Background

Mandibular condylar osteochondroma (OC) could lead to facial morphologic and functional disturbances, such as facial asymmetry, malocclusion, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction. However, after condylar OC resection, the inaccurate reposition of the neocondyle still needs to be solved. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of the condylar osteotomy and repositioning guide to reposition the neocondyle in the treatment of patients with severe deformity secondary to condylar OC.

Results

Three patients with severe deformity secondary to OC of the mandibular condyle were enrolled in this study. With the aid of condylar osteotomy and repositioning guide, condylar OC resection and repositioning were carried out, and the accuracy and stability of these guides were evaluated. All patients healed uneventfully, and no facial nerve injury and condylar ankylosis occurred. Compared with the computerized tomography scans in centric relation before surgery and 3 days after surgery, the results showed that the facial symmetry was greatly improved in all the patients. Also, after the superimposition of the condylar segments before surgery and 3 days after surgery, the postoperative reconstructed condyles had a high degree of similarity to the reconstruction of the virtual surgical planning. Observed from the sagittal and coronal directions, the measurements of condylar positions were very close to those of virtual surgical planning. Moreover, it also showed stable results after a 1-year follow-up.

Conclusions

For patients with severe deformity secondary to condylar OC, condylar osteotomy, and repositioning guide was expected to provide a new option for the improvement of facial symmetry and occlusal relationship.

Effect of condylar osteochondroma resection through an intraoral approach on the masticatory functions: a preliminary evaluation based on occlusion and temporomandibular joint functions

With this research, we aimed to evaluate the effect of condylar osteochondroma (OC) resection through an intraoral approach on the masticatory functions. Resection of condylar OC was carried out via an intraoral approach with the help of three-dimensional (3D) design, endoscope, and navigation system. The T-Scan III computerised occlusal analysis system was used to evaluate the occlusal force distribution, recorded at pre-treatment (T1) and post-treatment (T2) intervals. Records of the clinical examination of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), including maximal interincisal opening, mandibular lateral and forward movements, were also collected. Ten patients with condylar OC were enrolled in this study. The difference of force distribution between bilateral occlusion was reduced in T2 compared with T1 (11.92% ± 4.41% vs 48.52 % ± 28.37%, p<0.05), indicating better occlusal force distribution obtained after surgery. There was no significant difference in functions of the TMJ, such as maximal interincisal opening, and mandibular lateral and forward movements between T2 and T1 (p>0.05). Accordingly, condylar OC resection through an intraoral approach would obtain a satisfactory occlusal balance with no impairment of the temporomandibular joint functions.