Avoiding condylar displacement after intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy.

The intraoral vertical osteotomy is a versatile and simple technique usually applied to correct mandibular prognathism. Its greatest advantages include ease of performance and minimum neurosensory disturbances, whereas maxillomandibular fixation is pointed as its major disadvantage. Another important concern about this technique is condylar displacement, which may lead to temporomandibular dysfunction. Technical notes to avoid condylar luxation are discussed after 15 years of experience using this osteotomy as the technique of choice to correct mandibular prognathism. Three similar cases are presented, where 1 condyle was displaced from the glenoid fossa, resulting in mandibular deviation during function in patients requiring small mandibular setback.