OBJECTIVETo record condylar movements of patients with mandibular deviation and analyze their characteristics.

METHODSComputer aided diagnosis axiography (CADIAX III) was used to record and analyze condylar lateral movements in 31 patients (9 males, 22 females and the age range 12 - 26, mean age 18 years old) with mandibular deviation. Paired-t test and rank sum test were used to compare condylar movements. Multinomial logistic analysis was used to clarify the relationship between condylar movement and mandibular deviation.

RESULTSThe condylar lateral movements in patients with mandibular deviation were asymmetric. The tracing of the shifted side was longer than the contralateral side (P < 0.01). The transverse inclination of the shifted side was smaller than the contralateral side (P < 0.01). With the increase of deviation, the movement length difference between the two sides increased and the length of contralateral side decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe patients with mandibular deviation not only have morphological asymmetry but asymmetric condylar movement length and inclination in lateral movements. There is specific relationship between condylar movement and mandibular deviation.