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Bifid Mandibular Condyle Without History of Trauma or Pain: Report of a Case

2009; Elsevier BV; Volume: 67; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.joms.2008.06.083

1531-5053

Julia Rose Plevnia, Julie Ann Smith, Charles G. Stone,

Facial Nerve Paralysis Treatment and Research

Bifid condyles were originally reported as rare skeletal anomalies from studies of human remains. 1 Hrdlicka A. Lower jaw: Double condyles. Am J Phys Anthropol. 1941; 28: 75 Crossref Scopus (77) Google Scholar There is a strong correlation between condylar head remodeling and bifid condylar head appearance after trauma. 2 Stefanou E.P. Fanourakis I.G. Vlastos K. et al. Bilateral bifid mandibular condyles Report of four cases. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 1998; 27: 186 Crossref PubMed Scopus (42) Google Scholar , 3 Shaber E.P. Bilateral bifid mandibular condyles. Cranio. 1987; 5: 191 PubMed Google Scholar , 4 To E.W. Mandibular ankylosis associated with a bifid condyle. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 1989; 17: 326 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (26) Google Scholar , 5 Stadnicki G. Congenital double condyle of the mandible causing temporomandibular joint ankylosis: Report of case. J Oral Surg. 1971; 29: 208 PubMed Google Scholar Excluding the known factor of trauma, the possible developmental origin of the bifid condylar head should be explored in the asymptomatic patient. With the common use of dental panoramic radiographs, incidental findings of bifid condyles have given researchers greater opportunities to investigate the etiology and epidemiology of these unusual findings. This case study concerns a 44-year-old male who denied any trauma to his jaw, and presented with a left bifid condyle. The patient reported asymptomatic temporomandibular joints (TMJs) and denied any symptomatic clicking and popping. The patient is a musician and singer by trade. He has more stress to the oral cavity, facial muscles, condyle, and TMJs than the average person due to his profession. Remarkably, the patient is unaffected professionally by this skeletal abnormality. Based on the literature review, the mediolateral orientation of the bifid condylar heads supports the developmental origin theory, whereas an anteroposterior orientation supports traumatic origin.