BACKGROUND: This study was conceived to assess the postoperative stability of condylar position following fixation with miniplates and lag screws after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO).
METHODS: This retrospective study included a cohort of 20 patients undergoing BSSO using the Obwegeser-Dal Pont modification. The bony segments were stabilized using either miniplates with two 2.0-mm monocortical screws per segment or three 2.0-mm bicortical lag screws along the mandible\'s superior border. Pre- and postoperative (7-day interval) spiral computed tomography scans were conducted to assess skeletal changes across both groups. Data analysis employed Wilcoxon signed-rank and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests (α = 0.05).
RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed between the pre-and postoperative condylar position parameters (P>0.05). However, the lag screw group showed a marginal significant increase in the left condyle\'s angulation (preoperative: 24.83 ± 6.37 vs. postoperative: 32.5 ± 4.93; P = 0.04). Changes in condylar height, length, and width were not statistically significant before and after BSSO in either groups (P>0.05). Nor was any statistically significant difference found between the miniplates and lag screws groups regarding condylar position parameters (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that both lag screw and miniplate fixation methods can be effectively employed in BSSO procedures without impacting condylar position parameters. Thus, either fixation method can be chosen depending on factors such as the surgeon\'s preference and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pattern of predicted interosseous interference and to determine the influencing factor to volume of bony interference using a computer-assisted simulation system. This retrospective study recruited 116 patients with mandibular prognathism who had undergone sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) with or without maxillary osteotomy. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the amount of menton (Me) deviation: less than 2 mm (Group 1), 2-4 mm (Group 2), and more than 4 mm (Group 3). Changes in the distal segments following BSSRO and the volume of the interosseous interference between the proximal and distal segments were simulated after matching preoperative occlusion and postoperative expected occlusion with the cone-beam computed tomography data. Ramal inclinations and other skeletal measurements were analyzed before surgery, immediately after surgery, and at least 6 months after surgery.
RESULTS: The anticipated interosseous interference was more frequently noted on the contralateral side of chin deviation (long side) than the deviated site (short side) in Groups 2 and 3. More interference volume was predicted at the long side (186 ± 343.9 mm3) rather than the short side (54.4 ± 124.4 mm3) in Group 3 (p = 0.033). The bilateral difference in the volume of the interosseous interference of the osteotomized mandible was significantly correlated with the Me deviation (r =  - 0.257, p = 0.009) and bilateral ramal inclination (r = 0.361, p < 0.001). The predictor variable that affected the volume of the osseous interference at each side was the amount of Me deviation (p = 0.010).
CONCLUSIONS: By using the 3D simulation system, the potential site of bony collision could be visualized and successfully reduced intraoperatively. Since the osseous interference can be existed on any side, unilaterally or bilaterally, 3D surgical simulation is necessary before surgery to predict the osseous interference and improve the ramal inclination.

It is aimed to investigate whether there was a difference in radiographic changes in the operational areas between genioplasty alone and genioplasty combined with mandibular advancement and to evaluate the fractal dimension (FD) to assess trabecular changes after genioplasty surgery.
Preoperative-(T0) and postoperative-(T1) panoramic radiographs of 26 patients without any complications who underwent genioplasty combined with bilateral sagittal osteotomy and mandibular advancement or genioplasty alone were selected. In the panoramic radiographs of both groups, the genial segment, mandibular angulus, and surgical osteotomy line were examined using FD. The box-counting method was used for FD evaluation.
It was determined that FD values before and after treatment were similar in both groups for all regions where measurements were made. After surgery, the FD values of the middle region of the genial segment were found to be significantly lower than the other regions. At T1, the FD values at the osteotomy area were found to be significantly higher than those in the middle region of the genial segment.
Trabecular structure does not differ in patients undergoing genioplasty alone or in combination with mandibular advancement osteotomy. The middle region of the genial segment heals later than other regions.

UNASSIGNED: In class III, skeletal patients with high plane angle, counterclockwise rotation of maxillomandibular units is necessary. The study was aimed to evaluate the long-term stability of the change of mandibular plane in patients with class III deformity.
UNASSIGNED: This is a retrospective longitudinal clinical study. Patients with class III skeletal deformity and high plane angles who underwent maxillary advancement and superior repositioning with mandibular set back were studied. The change of mandibular plane (MP) was predictive factors of the study. Age, gender, the amount of movement of the maxillary advancement, and mandibular set back following orthognathic surgeries were variables. The amount of relapse at the A and B points 12 months after orthognathic surgeries was outcomes of the study. Pearson correlation test was used to determine any correlation between relapse at the A and B points following bimaxillary orthognathic surgery.
UNASSIGNED: Fifty-one patients were studied. The mean of MP changes immediately after osteotomies was 4.66 (1.64) degrees. The horizontal relapse at B point 12 months after surgeries was 1.08 (0.81) mm, and the vertical relapse was 1.38 (0.44) mm. There was a correlation between the horizontal and vertical relapse with MP change (P = 0.001).
UNASSIGNED: It seems that the counterclockwise rotation of maxillomandibular units in patients with class III skeletal deformity and high plane angle may be associated with the vertical and horizontal relapse that was noticed at the B point.

A novel modification of the Low Z plasty (NM-Low Z) technique for bilateral sagittal split osteotomy was recently proposed. The osteotomy line was modified more inferiorly than in the conventional Hunsuck-Epker (HE) approach. The NM-Low Z technique enhances the mandibular setback distance and degree of rotation in severe skeletal discrepancies. This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical behavior under simulated forces, and to compare the NM-Low Z and HE techniques on the mandible with Class III skeletal deformity at 1 week, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks post-operation. Physiological muscular and occlusal loads were simulated using the finite element (FE) method. Stresses on the miniplate, screws, and bone were observed and compared between the two models. The elastic strain at the fracture site was observed for the optimal bone-healing capacity. The NM-Low Z model exhibited a lower stress than the HE model at every stage post-operation. Both models demonstrated elastic strains within the normal range for bone healing. In summary, the biomechanical behavior of the NM-Low Z technique is comparable to that of the conventional EH technique. NM-Low Z could facilitate post-operation skeletal stability by reducing the stress on fixation materials during bone healing.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate whether the thicknesses of the two rami differ in patients with mandibular asymmetry. Preoperative cone beam computed tomography scans of 78 patients with mandibular asymmetry were assessed for ramus thickness, mandibular length, and mandibular shift. The results showed that the ramus was thinner on the longer side than on the shorter side in 85.9% of the patients. On average, the longer side of the mandible was 2.74mm longer (range 0.07-9.90mm, standard deviation 1.92mm) and 0.55mm thinner (range -0.61 to 2.02mm, standard deviation 0.59mm) than the shorter side (both P<0.001). This study indicates a trend in the discrepancy in ramus thickness between the longer and shorter side of about 8% of the mean thickness of the ramus. Regression analysis showed that for every 1-mm increase in the length of the mandible, the thickness of the superior aspect of the ramus was reduced by 0.041 mm (P=0.009) and the anterior aspect by 0.125 mm (P=0.001). Age and sex did not have a significant influence on the thickness of the mandible. It is concluded that the longer side of the mandible tends to be thinner at the ramus than the shorter side in patients with mandibular asymmetry. The implication of this finding could be important in relation to the sagittal split ramus osteotomy.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the factors that can possibly affect the positioning of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) in the proximal or distal segment following sagittal split osteotomy (SSO).
METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study. The patients were assigned according to the position of the IAN: the IAN was attached to the buccal plate in group 1 (27 SSOs), while it was in the distal segment in group 2 (83 SSOs).
RESULTS: The mean of the buccolingual thickness of the proximal segment at the vertical cut of the osteotomy (BLTP) was 5.0 ± 0.62 mm in group 1 and 4.16 ± 0.72 mm in group 2. The mean of the distance between the IAN and the external cortical bone at the distal of the second molar before the osteotomy (IANB) was 0.5 ± 0.24 mm in group 1 and 1.24 ± 0.45 mm in group 2. There were significant differences for the mean BLTP and IANB between the two groups (P = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the thickness of the buccal plate of the proximal segment, the distance from the IAN to the external cortical bone, the osteotomy technique, and the presence or absence of impacted third molars may be associated with the positioning of the IAN following SSO.

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) injection into muscle reduces muscular power and may prevent post-operative complication after orthognathic surgery. The purpose of this study was (1) to evaluate BTX-A injection into the masseter muscle on the prevention of plate fracture and (2) to compare post-operative relapse between the BTX-A injection group and the no injection group.
METHODS: Sixteen patients were included in this study. Eight patients received BTX-A injection bilaterally, and eight patients served as control. All patients received bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy for the mandibular setback and additional surgery, such as LeFort I osteotomy or genioplasty. Post-operative plate fracture was recorded. SNB angle, mandibular plane angle, and gonial angle were used for post-operative relapse.
RESULTS: Total number of fractured plates in patients was 2 out of 16 plates in the BTX-A injection group and that was 8 out of 16 plates in the no treatment group (P = 0.031). However, there were no significant differences in post-operative changes in SNB angle, mandibular plane angle, and gonial angle between groups (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: BTX-A injection into the masseter muscle could reduce the incidence of plate fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the mechanical characteristics of five techniques for the functionally stable fixation of simulated sagittal split ramus osteotomy with 10 mm of advancement and to evaluate the screw insertion torque.
METHODS: Fifty polyurethane hemimandibles with sagittal split ramus osteotomy and containing an advancement of 10 mm fixed and distributed as follows: Customized 3D Plate Group: 1 customized 3D miniplate; 4-Hole Plate Group: 2 miniplates with 4 holes; 6-Hole Plate Group: 2 miniplates with 6 holes; Hybrid Group: 1 flat miniplate with 4 holes and 1 bicortical screw; and Bicortical Screw Group: 3 bicortical screws. We conducted a mechanical test using vertical linear loading with a displacement velocity of 1 mm/min on a universal testing machine and assessed the screw insertion torque using a digital torque wrench.
RESULTS: The means of strength for the 1-, 3- and 5-mm displacements were determined by a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the post hoc Tukey test. Statistically significant differences were observed only for the 5-mm displacement (F = 3.36; p = 0.01). There was a difference between the 4-H2P and HG groups (p = 0.04).
CONCLUSIONS: The customized miniplate, the fixation methods with three bicortical screws, or with two straight miniplates with either 4 or 6 holes, all offer a similar mechanical resistance suitable for fixation.

OBJECTIVE: Classification of the degree of postoperative nerve damage according to contact with the mandibular canal and buccal cortical bone has been studied, but there is a lack of research on the difference in postoperative courses according to contact with buccal cortical bone. In this study, we divided patients into groups according to contact between the mandibular canal and the buccal cortical bone, and we compared the position of the mandibular canal in the second and first molar areas.
METHODS: Class III patients who visited the Dankook University Dental Hospital were included in this study. The following measurements were made at the second and first molar positions: (1) length between the outer margin of the mandibular canal and the buccal cortical margin (a); (2) mandibular thickness at the same level (b); (3) Buccolingual ratio=(a)/(b)×100; and (4) length between the inferior margin of the mandibular canal and the inferior cortical margin.
RESULTS: The distances from the canal to the buccal bone and from the canal to the inferior bone and mandibular thickness were significantly larger in Group II than in Group I. The buccolingual ratio of the canal was larger in Group II in the second molar region.
CONCLUSIONS: If mandibular canal is in contact with the buccal cortical bone, the canal will run closer to the buccal bone and the inferior border of the mandible in the second and first molar regions.