27/09/2026
In UNILATERAL CONDYLAR HYPERPLASIA, we usually focus on the pathological condyle.
But remember: ONE MANDIBLE, TWO TMJs.
So, one question remains…
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OTHER CONDYLE?
A question I’ve carried for years… and the reason behind this MULTICENTER STUDY conducted in Brazil and Spain. It feels good to finally have some answers.
Bibiana Mello da Rosa Dra. Adaia Valls Dr. Rubens Martins Bastos Rogerio Belle de Oliveira Federico Hernandez Alfaro
👉🏻 Condylectomy alone: no significant contralateral positional changes.
👉🏻 Condylectomy + simultaneous orthognathic surgery: predominantly SUPEROMEDIAL ROTATIONAL ADAPTATION.
👉🏻 Two-stage treatment: the contralateral condyle undergoes TWO SEQUENTIAL BIOMECHANICAL ADAPTATIONS. What happens to the contralateral condyle after proportional condylectomy A multicenter study.pdf
🗣️ INTERESTING FINDING: the staged group showed the greatest tendency toward volume reduction: −7.9% after condylectomy + another −2.0% after orthognathic surgery.
Could TWO ADAPTATION PHASES explain this greater remodeling? Our data raise the question, but cannot prove it. What happens to the contralateral condyle after proportional condylectomy A multicenter study.pdf
🗣️ CLINICAL TIP: DON’T LOOK ONLY AT THE OPERATED CONDYLE. Follow the CONTRALATERAL TMJ, especially between surgical stages.
And remember: POSITIONAL CHANGE is different than PATHOLOGY.
The TMJ is not static… IT ADAPTS.
