Trifid mandibular condyle: A case report and literature review.

Trifid mandibular condyle is a rare anatomical malformation characterized by a division of the mandibular condylar head. The two articulating surfaces of the bifid condyle are divided by a groove that can be oriented mediolaterally or anteroposteriorly. This anomaly of the mandibular condyle has been described as a condition of unknown ætiology and uncertain pathogenesis. Some authors see it as a result of accidental trauma or forceps delivery, with the two heads occurring one behind the other in the sagittal plane. Reported cases are mostly unilateral and usually asymptomatic. The diagnosis is made after radiographic exploration and precised by advanced imaging techniques such as three-dimensional computerized tomography.