title: Comparative Study of Skeletal Stability between Postoperative Skeletal Intermaxillary Fixation and No Skeletal Fixation after Bilateral Sagittal Split Ramus Osteotomy: an 18 Months Retrospective Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to evaluate skeletal stability after mandibular advancement with bilateral sagittal split osteotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six patients underwent single-jaw bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) to correct skeletal Class II malocclusion. One group (n = 13) were treated postoperatively with skeletal elastic intermaxillary fixation (IMF) while the other group (n = 13) where threated without skeletal elastic IMF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean advancement at B-point and Pog in the skeletal elastic IMF group was 6.44 mm and 7.22 mm, respectively. Relapse at follow-up at B-point was -0.74 mm and -0.29 mm at Pog. The mean advancement at B-point and Pog in the no skeletal elastic IMF group was 6.30 mm and 6.45 mm, respectively. Relapse at follow-up at B-point was -0.97 mm and -0.86 mm at Pog. There was no statistical significant (P > 0.05) difference between the skeletal IMF group and the no skeletal group regarding advancement nor relapse at B-point or Pog.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bilateral sagittal split osteotomy is characterized as a stable treatment to correct Class II malocclusion. This study demonstrated no difference of relapse between the skeletal intermaxillary fixation group and the no skeletal intermaxillary fixation group. Because of selection-bias and the reduced number of patients it still remains inconclusive whether to recommend skeletal intermaxillary fixation or not in the prevention of relapse after mandibular advancement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg Denmark. ; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hartlev
authors.affiliation: Section of Oral Radiology, School of Dentistry, Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus Denmark.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Godtfredsen
authors.affiliation: Section of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus Denmark.
authors.forename: Niels Trolle
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg Denmark.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jensen
keywords: mandibular advancement; maxillomandibular fixation; orthognatic surgery; relapse; sagittal split ramus osteotomy; skeletal fixation.