Long-term stability of surgical orthodontic treatment for patients with asymmetric mandibular prognathism: a retrospective comparison study on surgical methods

Abstract

Purpose To consider long-term postoperative stability, and its contributing factors in surgical orthodontic treatment for asymmetric mandibular prognathism by comparing a sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) and a combination of Le Fort I osteotomy and SSRO.Materials and Methods Patients with asymmetric mandibular prognathism had undergone SSRO (14 patients; one-jaw surgery group) or a combination of Le Fort I osteotomy and SSRO (15 patients; two-jaw surgery group) were enrolled. Cephalometric analyses were performed at five time points: initial visit (T0), pre-surgery (T1), several months after surgery (T2), start of retention (T3) and more than 5 years after surgery (T4). Factors were evaluated by measuring two groups at each time point, comparing changes in measurements during each time period, correlating mandibular changes between each period, and correlating changes in lower first molar and ramus inclination with T2-T4 measurements.Results The two-jaw surgery group had significantly smaller transverse changes of menton (Me) at T3–T4 and T2–T4 compared to the one-jaw surgery group. In the one-jaw surgery group, transverse changes in Me at T2–T4 were positively correlated with changes in transverse inclination of mandibular ramus at the deviated side observed at T1–T2. Vertical change of pogonion at T2–T4 was positively correlated with change in bucco-lingual inclination of lower first molar at T0–T1.Conclusions Two-jaw surgery is suggested to be more effective than one-jaw surgery in achieving long-term stability of mandibular position in the transverse and anteroposterior dimensions after surgical orthodontic treatment for asymmetric mandibular prognathism. Long-term follow-up is necessary to monitor potential mandibular relapse.

Keywords

• Surgical orthodontic treatment
• long-term observation
• mandibular prognathism
• facial asymmetry