Evaluation of mandibular angle ostectomy using three-dimensional finite element analysis.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the stress and the displacement distributions of the mandible after mandibular angle ostectomy (MAO) by means of three-dimensional finite element analysis.

METHODS

On the basis of a female patient with a prominent angle of the mandible, the finite element models were generated by helical computed tomography and related software and were analyzed under muscle forces and 3 kinds of biting conditions, including intercuspal position (ICP), incisal clenching (INC), and right unilateral molar clenching (RMOL). The mandibular stress and displacement distributions were analyzed by Abaqus software.

RESULTS

In the model of MAO, the increased stress and the decreased displacement was found in ICP, INC, and RMOL at the area of mandibular angle. The stress and the displacement increased in ICP and RMOL, whereas the others remained unchanged in INC at the area of mandibular condylar neck.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study have shown that MAO could alter biomechanical characteristics in the operated mandible, which suggested that a greater hit on face may lead to a higher incidence rate of condyle fracture and a lower incidence rate of angle fracture after MAO.