Mandibular range of motion after bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy with wire osteosynthesis or rigid fixation.
OBJECTIVE
An analysis was conducted to compare mandibular range of motion among Class II patients treated with wire osteosynthesis or rigid internal fixation after surgical mandibular advancement.


METHODS
Patients randomly received wire osteosynthesis and 8 weeks of maxillomandibular fixation (n = 49) or rigid internal fixation (n = 78). Mandibular range of motion was measured 2 weeks before surgery and 8 weeks, 6 months, and 1, 2, and 5 years after surgery.


RESULTS
Both groups showed decreased mobility in all movement dimensions that progressively recovered to near presurgical levels over the 5-year follow-up period. The difference in range of motion between treatment groups was not statistically significant. Changes in proximal and distal segment position could not explain decreased mobility.


CONCLUSIONS
Similar decreases in mandibular mobility occurred with wire and rigid fixation of a bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy after surgery. Long-term changes were statistically, but not clinically, significant.
Departments of Psychiatry and Orthodontics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78229-3900, USA.
J P
JP
Hatch
J E
JE
Van Sickels
J D
JD
Rugh
C
C
Dolce
R A
RA
Bays
S
S
Sakai
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000601:surgery*; D008334:Mandible / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D019186:Mandibular Advancement / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000502:physiology*