EARLY SURGICAL-ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT OF MANDIBULAR HYPOPLASIA IN JUVENILE CHRONIC ARTHRITIS

This study is an intermediate evaluation of early surgical-orthodontic treatment in 7 patients with uni- or bilateral hypoplastic mandibular growth due to juvenile chronic arthritis. Resection of the condylar heads and reconstruction with costochondral grafts was undertaken between 10 and 14 years of age and followed by orthodontic treatment. At the latest follow-up, 2-4.5 years postoperatively, all patients showed mandibular growth. Some even showed a tendency towards progenia. The scheduling of the surgery in relation to completion of growth seemed to be of importance in relation to the magnitude of mandibular growth. At the latest check-up, only one patient had attained skeletal maturation and a more long-term follow-up is needed before this method can be finally evaluated.