Longitudinal Analysis of Mandibular Condylar Growth Trajectories in Growing Patients

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the continuous morphological changes of the mandibular condyle during growth using longitudinal panoramic radiographic data and visualize these changes as growth trajectories. A total of 100 growing patients with 564 panoramic radiographs obtained between 36 and 203 months of age were included. Linear parameters (i.e., anterior, posterior, and superior lengths) and the condylar angle were assessed using the ImageJ software. Individual growth trajectories were constructed for each patient, and second-degree polynomial regression models were applied to assess the overall age-related growth patterns. Superior length showed the most consistent increase with age (R² = 0.484), posterior length showed a gradual increase (R² = 0.144), and anterior length showed minimal and variable changes (R² = 0.068). The condylar angle progressively increased over time (R² = 0.387). Despite substantial inter-individual variability, consistent overall trends were observed across all parameters. The mandibular condyle exhibited continuous and directional morphological changes characterized by predominant superior elongation and progressive angular reorientation. This trajectory-based approach enables condylar growth to be visualized as a dynamic process and may serve as an exploratory framework for describing age-related morphological changes, potentially supporting the future development of normative growth references in growing patients.