Mandibular remodeling after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for prognathism of the mandible.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the postoperative remodeling changes in the mandible after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy to correct mandibular prognathism.


METHODS
Twenty patients who underwent bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for the correction of mandibular prognathism were studied for postoperative remodeling changes within the mandible. The 6-week, 1-year, and long-term postoperative cephalometric mandibular tracings of 12 patients were superimposed using the fixation wires as the stable reference points to demonstrate the specific locations of the intrabony remodeling.


RESULTS
There was a general direction of remodeling at the condylion and gonion anteriorly and superiorly, while the B point and pogonion did not show much change in remodeling. At the condylion, 60% and 40% of the cases showed significant horizontal and vertical remodeling, respectively. At the gonion, 50% and 55% of the cases showed significant horizontal and vertical remodeling, respectively. No correlation was found between the remodeling changes at condylion and gonion and the surgical movement or relapse at B point and pogonion. There was a significant correlation between the observed horizontal relapse at gonion and the horizontal remodeling changes at this point showing that the postoperative displacement of this point is a result of both positional translocation and remodeling changes.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study show that there are intrabony remodeling changes that occur in the mandible after sagittal split osteotomy and that these continue for a long period of time in some patients. This remodeling occurred more in the condylar and gonial areas, while the chin remained relatively stable.
Huang
Chiung-Shing
CS
Faculty of Dentistry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. sshuang@ms1.hinet.net
de Villa
Glenda H
GH
Liou
Eric J W
EJ
Chen
Yu-Ray
YR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016723:Bone Remodeling; D001864:Bone Wires; D002508:Cephalometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort; D011378:Prognathism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors