Condyle‐glenoid fossa relationship after Herbst appliance treatment during two stages of craniofacial skeletal maturation: A retrospective study

Abstract

ObjectivesTo perform a three‐dimensional evaluation of the position of the condyles in patients treated with Herbst appliance (HA) in two stages of cervical vertebral maturation.Setting and sample populationRetrospective case‐control study. Pubertal Herbst group (PHG; n = 24, mean age 14.5 years, CS 3 and CS 4) and pre‐pubertal Herbst group (PPHG; n = 17, mean age 9.9 years, CS 1 and CS 2) were contrasted with comparison groups of non‐orthopaedically treated Class II patients in pubertal (PCG; n = 17, mean age 13.9 years) and pre‐pubertal maturational stages (PPCG; n = 18, mean age 10.6 years).Materials and MethodsCone‐beam computer tomography scans were taken before treatment (T0) and at T1 after 8 to 12 months. Point‐to‐point measurements of the displacement of the condyles between T0 and T1, relative to the glenoid fossae, were performed in the X, Y, Z and 3D perspectives. Qualitative assessments using semi‐transparent overlays and colour mapping also were produced.ResultsThe displacement of the condyles within the glenoid fossae in the treated groups was small (<0.75 mm; P > .05). Relative to the glenoid fossa, condylar position at T1 was similar to T0 in pre‐pubertal and pubertal groups (P > .05). Similar condylar rotations from T0 to T1 were observed in Herbst and comparison groups, and no significant difference was found between pre‐pubertal and pubertal patients.ConclusionsRegardless the stage of skeletal maturation, HA treatment did not change the condyle‐glenoid fossa relationship.