[Bimaxillary osteotomy with and without condylar positioning--a 1981-2002 long-term study].
OBJECTIVE
The introduction of the four-splint technique in our hospital in 1997 made possible the reproducible centric condyle positioning in bimaxillary osteotomies, while taking the auto rotation of the mandible into consideration and avoiding steps in the mandibular osteotomy line.


METHODS
From 1981 to 2002 a total of 622 patients underwent bimaxillary osteotomy surgery. During 1981-1997 a total of 395 patients (63.5%) underwent surgery without or only with centric condyle positioning in sagittal ramus osteotomy of the mandible. During 1997-2002 a total of 227 patients (36.5%) underwent surgery with continuous centric condyle positioning with the four-splint technique.


RESULTS
In patients with preoperative functional disorders, surgery with continuous centric condyle positioning resulted in statistically significant (p<0.05) improvement compared to those who underwent surgery without continuous centric condyle positioning.


CONCLUSIONS
The results confirm the indication for continuous centric condyle positioning in bimaxillary osteotomies.
Bill
J S
JS
Klinik und Poliklinik für Mund-, Kiefer-, Gesichtschirurgie, Universität Würzburg. josip@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
Würzler
K
K
Reinhart
E
E
Böhm
H
H
Eulert
S
S
Reuther
J F
JF
D003768:Dental Occlusion, Centric; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000601:surgery*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D003765:Models, Dental; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome