Cost comparison of genioplasty: when indicated, wire osteosynthesis is more cost effective than plate and screw fixation.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was conducted to determine the difference in the cost of genioplasty according to the osseous fixation technique used. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study among orthognathic surgery patients treated over a 54-month period ending in June 30, 2011 was conducted. Immediately post surgery, panoramic and cephalometric radiographs of these patients were assessed to determine the presence of genioplasty procedure and the type of fixation used. The cost of the actual fixation used by the surgeons was compared with that which the cost would have been had the surgeons used the criteria described in the hypotheses, for plate and screws fixation when genioplasty is performed. RESULTS: A review of 1,498 orthognathic surgery patients revealed that 473 of these patients underwent genioplasty. Out of 473 patients, 425 had genioplasty to either advance and-or superiorly reposition the chin. Of these, 230 had wire osteosynthesis and 243 had some form of rigid fixation. The unit cost of fixation for genioplasty when wire osteosynthesis is used is less than C$5.00. The mean unit cost estimate in our patient group when pre-bent plates are used was C$542.00. All 230 patients in whom wire osteosynthesis was used demonstrated stable fixation of the bony parts and no immediate postsurgical adjustment was required in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: For patients requiring genioplasty to advance and-or superiorly reposition the chin, it is possible to use wire osteosynthesis to achieve accurate and stable fixation while reducing the fixation cost by more than C$500.00 per case. The surgeon should include cost considerations in the selection of treatment methods.

Cleft lip, nose, and palate: the nasal septum as the pacemaker for midfacial growth.

The need to be aware of the dynamics of cartilage development and growth is encountered by surgeons whenever they attempt to correct craniofacial defects such as unilateral or bilateral cleft lip/cleft palate or midfacial injuries after trauma. Within the craniofacial region, the nasal septal cartilage and the sphenoethmoidal and sphenooccipital cranial synchondroses are distinguished from other craniofacial cartilages in possessing intrinsic growth potential. Indeed, growth of the nasal septal cartilage outstrips the growth of other skeletal and soft tissues in the midface to such an extent that it is the pacemaker for growth of the face and anterior portion of the skull. We revisit and reinforce the importance of the nasal septum as pacemaker with analysis of 3 classes of evidence: in vivo growth of the nasal septum in nonhuman mammalian models; composition and in vitro growth of nasal septal cartilage or chondrocytes; and experience from the surgical repair of unilateral or bilateral facial clefts.

The presence of mandibular third molars during sagittal split osteotomies does not increase the risk of complications.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate prospectively the effects of the presence or absence of third molars during sagittal split osteotomies (SSOs) on the frequency of unfavorable fractures, degree of entrapment and manipulation of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), and procedural time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The investigators designed and implemented a prospective cohort study and enrolled a sample composed of patients who underwent SSOs to correct mandibular deformities. The primary predictor variable was the status of the mandibular third molar at the time of SSO, and it was divided into 2 levels, present at the time of SSO (group I) or absent at the time of SSO (group II). The primary outcome variable was unfavorable splits. The secondary outcome variables were the degree of entrapment/manipulation of the IAN and the procedural time. Appropriate bivariate and multivariate statistics were computed, and the level of statistical significance was set at P < .05. RESULTS: Six hundred seventy-seven SSOs were performed in 339 patients: group I consisted of 331 SSOs (mean age ± SD: 19.6 ± 7.4 yrs), and group II consisted of 346 SSOs (30.4 ± 12.1 yrs). The overall rate of unfavorable fractures was 3.1% (21 of 677), with frequencies of 2.4% (8 of 331) in group I, compared with 3.8% (13 of 346) in group II (P = .3). The rate of IAN entrapment in the proximal segment was significantly lower in group I (37.2%) than in group II (46.5%; P = .01). The degree of entrapment was also significantly more severe for group II (P < .001). Third molars increased procedural time by 1.7 minutes (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of third molars during SSOs is not associated with an increased frequency of unfavorable fractures. Concomitant third molar removal in SSOs also decreases proximal segment IAN entrapment but only slightly increases operating time.

Concomitant removal of mandibular third molars during sagittal split osteotomy minimizes neurosensory dysfunction.

PURPOSE: Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury is 1 of the most important postoperative complications after sagittal split osteotomy (SSO). The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of the presence or absence of a mandibular third molar on the neurosensory recovery of the IAN after SSO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study enrolled a sample composed of patients who underwent SSO to correct mandibular deformities. The primary predictor variable was the status of the mandibular third molar at the time of SSO and it was divided into two levels, present at the time of SSO (Group I) or absent at the time of SSO (Group II). The primary outcome variable was neurosensory recovery of the IAN, assessed using the Medical Research Council scale, functional sensory recovery, and subjective evaluation. Neurosensory status was measured 3 times (preoperatively and 3 and 6 months postoperatively). Appropriate bivariate and multivariate statistics were computed, and the level of statistical significance was set at P < .05. RESULTS: A total of 120 SSOs were performed in 60 patients. Group I included 64 SSOs (mean patient age ± SD 19.3 ± 8.0 years) and group II, 56 SSOs (mean patient age 24.9 ± 10.0 years). The Medical Research Council scale scores showed that the presence of third molars during SSO was associated with a statistically significant decreased incidence of neurosensory disturbance of the IAN at 3 and 6 months postoperatively (all P < .01). Functional sensory recovery was achieved more frequently in group I, but this difference remained significant only at 3 months after adjusting (P = .01). A "normal sensation" was subjectively reported more frequently in group I at 3 and 6 months postoperatively (P ≤ .05). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of third molars during SSO minimizes postoperative neurosensory disturbance of the IAN.

A new reliable method for alveolar bone grafting at about 6 years of age.

When the timing of alveolar bone grafting is based on the eruptive progress of the permanent maxillary canine tooth, the surgical procedure is, by definition, delayed until the late mixed dentition phase. This treatment strategy overlooks both the crown length and the periodontal condition of the maxillary permanent incisors adjacent to the cleft defect. One should perform alveolar bone grafting at the time of eruption of the maxillary central incisor at about 5.5 to 6 years of age.