Quantifying bone healing after mandibular displacement in orthognathic surgery

• Published in: British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery Vol. 62; no. 1; pp. 45 - 50
• Main Authors: Voss, Jan Oliver, Bolis, Rwis, Koerdt, Steffen, Doll, Christian, Rubarth, Kerstin, Duda, Georg N, Heiland, Max, Fischer, Heilwig, Rendenbach, Carsten, Ebker, Tobias, Steffen, Claudius
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland 01-01-2024
• Subjects: Orthognathic surgery; Volumetric analysis; Pseudarthrosis; Bone healing; Mandibular split osteotomy; Ossification
• ISSN: 0266-4356; 1532-1940
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2023.10.012

Impaired bony healing following bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) is a major unmet medical need for affected patients, and rare occurrences can hinder the identification of underlying risk factors. We hypothesised that osseous union following BSSO can be quantified using volumetric analysis, and we aimed to identify the risk factors for impaired bone healing. The percentage change in bony volume was measured in orthognathic patients following BSSO using two consecutive postoperative cone-beam computed tomography scans. Patients' characteristics and treatment parameters were documented, and correlation and regression analyses of these variables performed. Thirty-six patients (23 men and 13 women) with a mean (SD) age of 33.28 (11.86) years were included. The gap site (lingual versus buccal) (p < 0.01) had a significant impact on the change in volume. Age (p = 0.06) showed a trend towards significance. Initial width of the osteotomy gap, sex, and indication for surgery did not influence osseous healing. Increased age at surgery and the side of the buccal osteotomy are independent risk factors for impaired osseous healing following BSSO.