Assessment of the Thickness of the Roof of the Glenoid Fossa Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Orthognathic Surgery Patients: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Purpose:The aim of this study was to assess the change in thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa (RGF) in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Methods:This retrospective study measured the thickness of the RGF in 19 patients (10 males, 9 females) who underwent orthognathic surgery at Chosun University Dental Hospital. The thickness of the RGF was measured perpendicularly between the 'glenoid fossa line' and 'middle cranial fossa line' on parasagittal and paracoronal reconstructions.Results: The mean RGF thickness increased from 0.83±0.44 mm to 0.86±0.46 mm after surgery. The average change in thickness of the RGF was 0.17±0.18 mm. The thickness of the RGF in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) showed no significant difference by sex, and the change in thickness of the TMJ did not vary by surgical method. Conclusions:We found that the thickness of the RGF increased after orthognathic surgery, as revealed by CBCT. Further studies including larger numbers of subjects and long-term follow-up are needed to confirm the results of this study.