Evaluation of Bone Trabeculation in the Mandible in Patients With Surgically Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion by Using Fractal Analysis

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes in trabecular bone architecture in the condylar neck and angulus regions of the mandible in patients who were treated with surgically assisted maxillary extension (SARME) using fractal analysis (FA) techniques. Methods: The study included 37 patients who underwent SARME operation for maxillary transversal deficiency in the Department of Oral, Maxillofacial and Maxillofacial Surgery. Fractal values (FV) were measured from the right and left condyle neck and angulus on panoramic radiographs before and 6 months after the operation. Results: As a result of the analysis, statistically significant changes were found in the bilateral condyle neck in pre and postoperative FV scores ( P <0.05), whereas the changes in the angulus region were not statistically significant ( P >0.05). Conclusions: This study concludes that changing occlusion and masticatory forces after SARME surgery change the bone structure in the condyle region of the mandible, increase trabeculation and therefore FV.