Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of autogenous coronoid process grafts for reconstruction of the mandibular condyle.
Study design: Two groups of 9 goats each were used. Each animal underwent unilateral total condyle and disk removal and was treated by grafting an autogeneous coronoid process. The animals in group A were sacrificed at 4, 12, and 24 weeks after surgical procedure, and their grafted coronoid processes were harvested for histological observation. All animals in group B received 3-dimensional CT scanning examination at different times and were sacrificed at 24 weeks after surgical procedure. The items of ramus height (RH), transverse dimension of the condyle (CT), and posteroanterior dimension of the condyle (CP) were measured for comparison with the operated and nonoperated sides.
Results: Despite the differences in the measurements of RH, CT, and CP between the operated and nonoperated sides, the grafted coronoid process had a similar shape and histological structures to the normal condyle at 24 weeks after surgical procedure. The head of the neocondyle was covered by a cap of fibrous tissue, which might play the role of the articular disc.
Conclusions: Under the mechanical stimuli of the temporomandibular joint site, the grafted coronoid process could gradually remodel to a neocondyle with functional shape and structure in goats. This animal study suggests that autogenous coronoid process could be considered as a new donor source for reconstruction of the mandibular condyle.