koski1968 BAUME

578 Koski
the idea that the condylar cartilage is of major importance Sor the growth of
the mandible. Bilateral condylectomy,“” even the congenital absence of the
rami, has been found to have no appreciable effect on the growth of the rest
of the mandible in human patients, and the same finding has been made in
connection with experimental condylectomies in animalsl”s 25, K 72 The fact that
the mandibular growth may result in deformation after condylectomy, especially
in the posterior part of the ramus, cannot be used to support the idea of the
condyle’s important role, since the deformation is to be expected (Fig. 13).
The cartilage in the condyle provides for some growth of the posterior part of
the ramus and, if this provision is lacking, then the mandible, in its own field
of muscular and other forces, is bound to grow abnormally.
The claim that the condylar growth directs the growth of the mandible
appears to be incorrect. It is known that the direction of the condylar growth
may vary considerably. 63 This is especially well demonstrated b.y studies involving
the use of metallic implants, which show that the act,ual growth of the
condyle is sometimes upward and backward and sometimes upward and forwardlo
(Figs. 14 and 15). It is very hard to imagine how, in the latter cases,
the condylar growth would be able to propel the mandible forward and downward.
The information available on condylar growth appears very strongly to