Unilateral trifid mandibular condyle: a case report

Tetrafid and trifid mandibular condyle: A case report

Although the bifid or trifid mandibular condyle is a rare entity, the tetrafid mandibular condyle is a more rare entity. This article presents the first case of tetrafid and trifid mandibular condyle of a 31-year-old patient with a history of previous trauma. The patient had with symptoms such as crepitus of the right temporomandibular joint and pain upon palpation in the preauricular region and masseter muscle. This rare entity was diagnosed on a panoramic radiograph and confirmed using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. As there were symptoms, a hard stabilization appliance was applied to the patient.

Multiheaded mandibular condyles

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of multiheaded condyles (MHC) in a group of Turkish subjects using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

METHODS

In this retrospective study, CBCT scans of 975 patients (546 female, 429 male; age 15-89 years, mean age 42.46 years) who were referred to Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology between 2015 and 2021 were evaluated. Bifid and trifid mandibular condyle cases were analyzed according to the patients' age, gender, and laterality, and their frequencies were determined statistically.

RESULTS

A multiheaded mandibular condyle (MHC) was detected in 57 of the 975 patients (546 female, 429 male). MHC was diagnosed unilaterally in 49 patients; in 8 patients, it was observed bilaterally. A bifid mandibular condyle (BMC) was detected in 54 patients. A trifid mandibular condyle (TMC) was found in 2 women, and one tetrafid mandibular condyle was seen in 1 woman.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of MHC was 5.84% in our proband, which is higher than in previous studies. There was no statistically significant difference between the prevalence of MHC in males or females.

Trifid Mandibular Condyle: Case Report and Current Review of the Literature

Trifid mandibular condyle (TMC) is a rare anatomical variation characterized by the duplication of the mandibular condyle. The aim of this study is to report a new case of a 26-year-old female patient with a left TMC and to review the current existing literature on TMC, the relevant cases, etiology, symptoms and different treatment modalities. The database engines PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of science, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Cochrane and CINAHL were searched for TMC cases from inception until April of 2022. Only 13 previous cases of TMC were found. Although it is a rare anatomical entity, TMC is increasingly being detected due to more advanced imaging techniques, especially computed tomography (CT), cone beam CT (CBCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) emerging in the field of dentistry. The etiology and pathogenesis of TMC and its relationship with TMD are still unclear. Further studies and follow-up may help to better understand this anatomic variant and possible interactions with local pathologies.

A study on etiopathogenesis and clinical features of multi-headed (bifid and trifid) mandibular condyles and review of the literature

PURPOSE

The formations of second or more condylar heads are considered as rare anomalies. Fourteen multi-headed condyles (MHC) were presented; 13 of these were bifid mandibular condyles (BMC), whereas one exceptionally rare case was a trifid mandibular condyle (TMC). The TMC presented in this paper is the eighth case reported in the literature. In this paper, etiopathogenesis, types, and treatments are discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients were classified according to their status, etiologies, gender, functions of the mandible, interocclusal distances, pathological conditions, types, and treatment received.

RESULTS

BMCs were classified into two groups: type I BMCs were nontraumatic, nonsymptomatic, mediolateral, presumably developmental, and characterized by shallow grooves. Type II BMCs were traumatic and may have two subgroups. The first group of type II BMCs were mediolateral and Y-shaped. The second group of type II BMCs were characterized by two separate and anteroposteriorly located condyles.

CONCLUSION

Treatment depended on patients' complaints. In this study, asymptomatic patients did not receive therapy, whereas patients with temporomandibular join internal derangement received medical treatment, and patients with ankylosis had surgical treatment.

Bilateral condylar anomaly: A case report and review

A case report of trifid and aplastic condyle in a 26-year-old female has been discussed. A marked oval radiolucency in the head of right condyle and absence of left condyle was observed on a panoramic radiograph. Diagnosis of trifid condyle was established and confirmed using computed tomography. Magnetic resonance images showed degenerative changes of the disc.