title: A comparison of the stability of miniplate with bicortical screw fixation after sagittal split setback.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to decide whether use of bicortical screw fixation provides sufficient stability to dispense with intermaxillary fixation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty consecutive patients who had undergone surgical setback of the mandible by means of bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomies were studied. Group 1 (15 patients) had miniplate fixation with intermaxillary fixation for 6 weeks, and group 2 (15 patients) had bicortical screw fixation and immediate postoperative function. The 2 groups were evaluated radiographically for postsurgical changes of pogonion in the early (6 weeks) phase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that there were no significant differences between the 2 groups. Overall, there was good stability in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of bicortical screw fixation after sagittal split setback of the mandible provides sufficient stability to dispense with intermaxillary fixation.
authors.affiliation: Yonsei University and Wonju Christian Hospital, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kangwon-Do, South Korea.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D002508:Cephalometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011378:Prognathism / Q000601:surgery; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric