Figure 5

Positional change of the condyle in relation to the mandibula fossa. In patients with preoperative abnormal condylar morphology in Group AN, the postoperative distance between the mandibular fossa and the anterior part of the condyle increased by an average of 0.30 ± 0.10 mm, and the postoperative distance to the superior part increased by an average of 0.47 ± 0.25 mm. The postoperative distance to the posterior part decreased by an average of 0.05 ± 0.27 mm. In patients with preoperative abnormal condylar morphology in Group AW, the anterior distance increased by an average of 0.37 ± 0.11 mm, and the superior distance increased by an average of 0.48 ± 0.27 mm. The posterior distance increased by an average of 0.30 ± 0.15 mm. In patients without preoperative abnormalities in condylar head morphology in Group NN, the distance between the mandibular fossa and the anterior part of the condyle increased by an average of 0.15 ± 0.09 mm, and the distance to the superior part increased by an average of 0.57 ± 0.25 mm. The distance to the posterior part increased by an average of 0.47 ± 0.25 mm. In Group NW, the distance to the anterior part was more likely to increase by an average of 0.80 ± 0.41 mm. The distance to the superior part decreased by an average of 0.06 ± 0.37 mm, and the distance to the posterior part decreased by an average of 0.26 ± 0.31 mm. Results showed that in cases of preoperative abnormal condyle bone morphological abnormalities, the position of the condyle in relation to the mandibular fossa was displaced posteriorly and inferiorly, irrespective of the presence or absence of postoperative bone changes. However, the distance was negligible and not significant. In cases without preoperative condyle morphological abnormalities, the condyle of Group NN was found to be anterior inferior to the mandibular fossa. Meanwhile, the condyle of Group NW was located posteriorly, without significant differences between the two groups.