Evaluation of the Mandibular Condyles Trabecular Structure in Patients with Severe Class III Pattern: A CT Fractal Analysis Study

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to examine the morphological features of class III patients’ trabecular structure of the mandibular condyle in comparison with normal class I individuals. CT scans of 45 severe class III patients (age: 16–46) who were the candidates for orthogenetic surgery were selected and matched by age and sex with 45 normal class individuals. The trabecular bone structure of the left and right mandibular condyle in three CT planes (axial, sagittal, coronal) of the study group and control group were evaluated employing the fractal analysis. The result of the present study indicated that there were significant differences between the fractal dimensions (FD) values of class III patients and normal class I individuals in all three CT planes (axial, coronal, sagittal) (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in FD values of males and females. The intra-group evaluation revealed that there was no correlation between age and FD values. No significant differences between the FD values of the left and right condyle were detected. The FD values of class III patients’ mandibular condyle were lower than those of typical class I individuals which indicated that these patients were more prone to DJD and TMD.