title: Mechanisms of early skeletal release following surgical advancement of the mandible.
abstract: Despite recent innovative technical and biological advances, surgical advancement of the mandible does not demonstrate uniform skeletal stability. In fact, the results of recent investigations have shown that considerable skeletal relapse occurs quite early in the post-surgical period. This article reviews current literature to implicate the factors primarily responsible for early skeletal relapse following surgical advancement of the mandible via the modified sagittal split ramus osteotomy. Three specific mechanisms which commonly predispose this orthognathic procedure to skeletal relapse are delineated. Prolonged skeletal stabilisation with control of the proximal segment of the mandible is advocated to insure predictably stable results.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence