Custom-Made Titanium Miniplates Associated With Ultrahigh-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Graft in Orthognathic Surgery: An Adjunct to Maxillary Advancement.

Patients with considerable maxillomandibular anteroposterior discrepancies and maxillary hypoplasia require corrective treatment through orthognathic surgery. However, in the treatment of severe maxillary retrognathism, it is necessary to reconstruct areas of bone deficiency through grafting techniques in addition to maxillary advancement using only the Le Fort I osteotomy. Treatment in these patients is more challenging and requires high surgical predictability. Alloplastic materials often have been used for the reconstruction of poor bone contours. Ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is currently an excellent filler material for poor bone regions and is a good substitute for autografts and other alloplastic materials for its unique properties, including high biocompatibility. Insertion of this material in the fixation system customized for virtually planned orthognathic surgeries is an innovative technique. This report describes the insertion of UHMWPE into custom-made titanium miniplates manufactured by computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing technology for orthognathic surgery consisting of maxillary advancement and mandibular retrusion to treat a patient with Crouzon syndrome, Class III malocclusion, and severe maxillary retrognathism.

Internal Distraction Resulted in Improved Patient-Reported Outcomes for Midface Hypoplasia.

BACKGROUND: Both internal and external distraction devices have been used successfully in correcting midface hypoplasia. Although the indication for surgery and the osteotomy techniques may be similar, deciding when to use internal versus external devices has not been studied. The authors studied patient-reported outcomes with FACE-Q and functional surveys for internal and external devices for midface distraction patients. METHODS: Patients who underwent distraction advancement after Le Fort I and Le Fort III were surveyed using the FACE-Q survey and a functional survey. Equal groups of internal and external device patients were compared (n = 64). Data recorded included: sex, age, follow-up, diagnosis, operating room time, expected blood loss, length of stay, distraction length, consolidation time, and complications. RESULTS: Internal and external device groups were similar with regards to patient diagnosis, operative time, expected blood loss, distraction length but consolidation times differed (internal = 3.6 versus external = 1.1 months). For FACE-Q appearance appraisal, there were similarities in domain and scale. For the functional survey (airway/breathing, ocular/vision, occlusion/eating, speech/articulation), there was also similar scoring. However, internal device patients had superior FACE-Q scores for Quality of Life: Social Function (80.9 versus 68.9), Early Life Impact (92.9 versus 62.4), Dental Anxiety (70.2 versus 48.3), Psychological Well-being (87.8 versus 68.6); and Decision Satisfaction (81.2 versus 56.9) and Outcome Satisfaction (91.0 versus 84.7). CONCLUSIONS: Internal and external midface distraction patients had similar patient-reported outcomes for appearance and functional improvement; however, internal device patients were more satisfied with their quality of life and their decision to undergo the procedure.

Use positional screws for Le Fort I osteotomy fixation: technical note.

In recent years, several studies related to fixation systems have been published, but few suggest any variations of the Le Fort I osteotomy technique, and the use of plates and screws placed along the canine and zygomatic pillar are common. The 20-year-old patient with Crouzon syndrome presented with severe hypoplasia of the maxillary, mandibular prognathism, and class III facial pattern. The patient underwent orthognathic surgery and high Le Fort I osteotomy with the fixation of eight positional screws. The aim of this paper is to describe a different technique for the fixation in high maxillary osteotomies, which can be used in specific cases.

Mechanical stability of 2-plate versus 4-plate osteosynthesis in advancement Le Fort I osteotomy. An in vitro study.

INTRODUCTION: Stability in orthognathic surgery is nowadays considered as efficient and adequate. The objective of this study was to determine and to compare the mechanical resistance to vertical load of a Le Fort I advancement osteotomy stabilized by mean of two different osteosynthesis techniques, one using two 10-hole pre-bent T-shaped plates, the other using four manually bent 4-hole L- and J-shaped plates. MATERIEL AND METHODS: Standardized Le Fort I advancement osteotomies have been made on polyurethane models. The maxillary advancement was 5mm. Two groups of five models each were created. Group 1 was stabilized by mean of two 10-hole pre-bent T-shaped plates fixed by monocortical screws in the paranasal region. Group 2 was stabilized by mean of manually bent four 4-hole L-shaped plates fixed monocortical screws in the zygomatic and paranasal regions. A testing machine was used to load vertically the models at the range of 1mm/min linear displacement until peak load and system failure. Statistical analysis was realized using ANOVA and t-test, considering P as significant if <0.005. RESULTS: The maximal tolerated load was 15N in group 1and 42.71N in group 2 (P=0.003). DISCUSSION: The use of two T-shaped 10-holes pre-bent plates allows for less resistance in vertical loading than the use of four 4-holes manually bent L-shaped plates.

Skeletal stability after inferior maxillary repositioning without interpositional graft.

True vertical maxillary deficiency is a characteristic of short face syndrome. In these patients, inferior repositioning of the maxilla (IRM) is indicated to improve facial aesthetics and function, but this procedure has been described as the most unstable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long term, post surgical stability of IRM, fixed with four 2.0mm L-shaped miniplates, without any type of graft. A cephalometric study was performed, analysing linear measurements (anterior nasal spine, the A point, top of the incisor, top of the buccal-mesial cusp of the first molar, and posterior nasal spine on an X-Y coordinate system) traced immediately preoperatively, immediately postoperatively and at least 6 months post operatively. Eight young adult patients who underwent IRM were studied. The average results of this study were: surgical movement of 4.65 mm at I point, 5.32 mm at anterior nasal spine (ANS) point, and 4.70 mm at A point and relapses of 1.60 mm (35%), 2.23 mm (43%) and 2.10 mm (46%), respectively. It was concluded, that IRM using this type of internal rigid fixation without graft is unstable.

A retrospective evaluation of rigid fixation in orthognathic surgery using a biodegradable self-reinforced (70L:30DL) polylactide.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate clinical and radiological evidence of osteotomy site healing in orthognathic surgery after rigid fixation using a biodegradable plating system. STUDY DESIGN: A follow up of 30 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery using a biodegradable self-reinforced (70L:30DL) polylactide plating system was presented. The follow-up schedule for all patients consisted of regular appointments at 1-180 days after surgery. Clinical evaluation involved notation of any abnormal swelling, infection, discoloration, or discharge at the osteotomy sites. Stability was evaluated by manual palpation. For radiographic evaluation, panoramic radiographs were taken immediately after surgery, and again at 7-180 days. The radiographs were analyzed for any visual changes in osteotomy fragments, resorptive changes in osteotomy fragments, callus formation, and union of the osteotomy segments. RESULTS: No clinical complications and no radiological changes in the osteotomy sites were observed. Regarding the clinical usefulness of the biodegradable fixation system, fixation at the time of operation was considered as excellent in all 30 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The conclusions of this study were that self-reinforced (70L:30DL) polylactide was considered to be comparable to other forms of rigid internal fixation for orthognathic surgery.