title: Sonographic Evaluation of Bone Formation After Sagittal Split Ramus Osteotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the applicability of sonography for evaluation of mandible bone healing after orthognathic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 10 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery. To assess new bone formation after sagittal split ramus osteotomy, the echo intensities of ultrasound (US) reflections of the proximal segment, distal segment, and bone gap were measured with a real-time US scanner at 1 day, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks, and 2 and 4 months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean echo intensity of US reflections of the bone gap gradually increased and became equivalent to that of bone surfaces by 4 weeks postoperatively. X-ray tomograms confirmed bone formation at the bone gap at the same time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that sonography may be useful for evaluating osseous healing after orthognathic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Regenerative Oral Surgery, Unit of Translational Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan (K.M., I.A.); Department of Oral Surgery, Imaki-ire General Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan (M.Y.); and Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (K.Y.) and Orthodontics (R.Y.), Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Kei-ichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.affiliation: Department of Regenerative Oral Surgery, Unit of Translational Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan (K.M., I.A.); Department of Oral Surgery, Imaki-ire General Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan (M.Y.); and Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (K.Y.) and Orthodontics (R.Y.), Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Department of Regenerative Oral Surgery, Unit of Translational Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan (K.M., I.A.); Department of Oral Surgery, Imaki-ire General Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan (M.Y.); and Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (K.Y.) and Orthodontics (R.Y.), Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Kojiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Regenerative Oral Surgery, Unit of Translational Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan (K.M., I.A.); Department of Oral Surgery, Imaki-ire General Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan (M.Y.); and Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (K.Y.) and Orthodontics (R.Y.), Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Department of Regenerative Oral Surgery, Unit of Translational Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan (K.M., I.A.); Department of Oral Surgery, Imaki-ire General Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan (M.Y.); and Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (K.Y.) and Orthodontics (R.Y.), Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan. asahina@nagasaki-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Asahina
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D010012:Osteogenesis; D059229:Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: head and neck ultrasound; mandible; orthognathic surgery; sonography