Skeletal stability following mandibular advancement and rigid fixation

• Published in: Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery Vol. 45; no. 7; pp. 572 - 576
• Main Authors: Kirkpatrick, T.B., Woods, M.G., Swift, J.Q., Markowitz, N.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.1987; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Screws; Bone Wires; Cephalometry; Facial Bones - anatomy & histology; Female; Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Humans; Immobilization; Male; Mandible - anatomy & histology; Mandible - surgery; Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Osteotomy - instrumentation; Osteotomy - methods; Rotation; Splints; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Human; Stability; Stomatology; Surgery; Inferior maxillary; Maxillofacial; Osteosynthesis
• ISSN: 0278-2391
• DOI: 10.1016/0278-2391(87)90266-7

Twenty non-growing subjects underwent sagittal ramus osteotomies and rigid fixation. Cephalograms were analyzed before surgery, immediately after surgery and at least six months following surgery to evaluate skeletal stability. A mean horizontal relapse of 0.42 mm (8%) and a mean vertical increase in lower face height of 0.2 mm were found six months after surgery. Both were statistically insignificant. The mean backward rotation of the mandible of 0.55° found six months after surgery was statistically significant ( P < 0.015), but was considered to be clinically insignificant. The results of this study show that surgical mandibular advancement with rigid fixation is a very reliable and stable procedure.