title: Can resorbable screws effectively be used in fixating bilateral sagittal split osteotomies for mandibular advancement? A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Resorbable fixation material is an attractive option for those patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. The efficacy of resorbable screws was tested in bilateral mandibular sagittal split osteotomies (BSSOs) performed for correction of retrognathic mandibles.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred one patients were enrolled in this prospective randomized clinical trial. Patients in group 1 (n = 51) received titanium screws (Stryker) and patients in group 2 (n = 50) received resorbable screws (Inion CPS). Outcome measurements were compared for statistical significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant difference in the use of postoperative elastics (P < .0001). There was no statistically significant difference in other outcome measurements, including clinical evidence of relapse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resorbable screws can be used effectively for fixation of BSSO for mandibular advancement. A higher incidence of rotation around positional screws can result secondary to the mechanical "looseness" when using resorbable screws. This can be treated effectively using Class III mechanic elastics during the initial stages of bone healing.
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Washington School of Dentistry, Seattle, WA. Electronic address: seungyu@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Seung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Washington School of Dentistry, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bloomquist
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D063173:Retrognathia / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult