Complications of orthognathic surgery: a comparison between wire fixation and rigid internal fixation

This retrospective review compares the results of using rigid internal fixation (RIF) and wire fixation for orthognathic surgery patients. The records of two groups of demographically similar patients who underwent comparable surgery, performed by the same four attending surgeons at the same institutions during the same time period (1983 to 1986), were evaluated for complications and unanticipated treatment results. The most striking finding of this study is the general similarity between the two groups. However, differences in frequency of excessive weight loss and persistent restriction of mandibular opening suggest a benefit from early mobility of the mandible that comes with RIF. Because there was no concomitant increase in complications or unexpected results of treatment, the introduction of RIF for orthognathic surgery may offer patients some potential advantages.     

Skeletal stability after mandibular advancement with rigid versus wire fixation.

PURPOSE: This study examined the stability of skeletal changes after mandibular advancement surgery with rigid or wire fixation up to 2 years postoperatively. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Subjects for this multisite, prospective, clinical trial received rigid (n = 78) or wire (n = 49) fixation. The rigid cases were fixed with three 2-mm bicortical position screws and 1 to 2 weeks of skeletal maxillomandibular fixation with elastics, and the wire fixation subjects were fixed with inferior border wires and had 6 weeks of skeletal maxillomandibular fixation with 24-gauge wires. Cephalometric radiographs were obtained before orthodontics, immediately before surgery, and at 1 week, 8 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. Linear cephalometric changes were referenced to a cranial base coordinate system. RESULTS: Before surgery, both groups were balanced with respect to linear and angular measurements of craniofacial morphology. Mean anterior sagittal advancement of the mandibular symphysis was 4.92 +/3.01 mm in the rigid group and 5.11 +/- 3.09 mm in the wire group, and the inferior vertical displacement was 3.37 +/- 2.44 in the rigid group and 2.85 +/- 1.78 in the wire group. The vertical changes were similar in both groups. Two years postsurgery, the wire group had 30% sagittal relapse of the mandibular symphysis, whereas there was no change in the rigid group (P < .001). Both groups experienced changes in the orientation and configuration of the mandible. CONCLUSIONS: Rigid fixation is a more stable method than wire fixation for maintaining mandibular advancement after sagittal split ramus osteotomy.     

Bilateral sagittal split osteotomy and temporomandibular disorders: rigid fixation versus wire fixation

OBJECTIVE: The effects of orthognathic surgery on temporomandibular disorders may be related to the surgical method that is used. Specifically, it has been suggested that the choice of stabilization technique may play a major role in the functional outcome of mandibular advancement surgery. The purpose of this study was to prospectively compare long-term (2 years) signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders after orthognathic surgery with bilateral sagittal split osteotomy in 127 patients randomized to receive rigid or wire fixation. STUDY DESIGN: Signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders were evaluated before and 2 years after surgery by means of the overall craniomandibular index (CMI), dysfunction index (DI), and muscle index (MI). Patients also reported subjective symptoms of temporomandibular disorders by marking areas of pain on a standard drawing of the head and rating the pain in each area on a scale ranging from 1 (very mild) to 7 (very extreme). Subjective pain was also assessed through use of the Oral Health Status Questionnaire and by a rating of the difficulty in opening the mouth because of pain. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the CMI, MI, or DI change scores between the wire and rigid fixation groups (mean CMI(wire) = 0.05, mean CMI(rigid) = 0.04; mean DI(wire) = 0.02, mean DI(rigid) = 0. 01; mean MI(wire) = 0.08, mean MI(rigid) = 0.08) 2 years after surgery. Temporomandibular joint sounds also demonstrated no significant differences between the two fixation methods. Subjective pain reports were consistent with the clinical examinations. On average, both wire and rigid scores decreased slightly, but the change scores were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the long-term (2 years) effects of wire and rigid internal fixation methods on the signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders do not differ. Earlier concerns about increased risk for temporomandibular disorders with rigid fixation were not supported by these results.     

Intraosseous wire fixation versus rigid osseous fixation of mandibular fractures: a preliminary report

While wire osteosynthesis has been the accepted modality to use with open reduction of mandibular fractures, several authors have suggested the use of more rigid techniques to achieve the same result while also eliminating adverse effects associated with prolonged maxillomandibular fixation. Few studies have directly compared the two techniques in a prospective manner. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate complications seen with wire osteosynthesis versus a small bone plating system in management of mandibular fractures. The results suggest that small bone plating systems similar to the one used in this study may serve as a suitable alternative to wire osteosynthesis for the management of mandibular parasymphysis, body, and angle fractures. The length of the procedure, the length of hospital stay, and patient comfort were comparable with the two techniques. Factors that may contribute to failure are: location of the fracture, poor patient compliance, length of time from the trauma to the repair, antibiotic choice, and most importantly, operator skill and experience.     

Technical factors accounting for stability of a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy advancement: wire osteosynthesis versus rigid fixation

OBJECTIVE: Relapse after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy has been attributed to various technical factors that are inherent in the surgical procedure. The purpose of this article was to analyze technical factors that predispose to relapse when wire or rigid fixation is used. STUDY DESIGN: Patients were randomized to either rigid or wire osteosynthesis. Cephalometric radiographs were obtained and digitized at multiple time periods before and after surgery. Data were analyzed through use of 2-sample t tests and stepwise regression analyses. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis indicated that the following factors correlated with relapse: initial advancement, change in ramus in inclination, change in the mandibular plane, and fixation type. CONCLUSIONS: Relapse increased with the amount of initial advancement and, to a lesser extent, with control of the proximal segment and change in the mandibular plane. These factors are similar for wire osteosynthesis and rigid fixation.     

Lag screw versus position screw techniques for rigid internal fixation of sagittal osteotomies: a comparison of stability

Both lag screw and position screw techniques have potential advantages and disadvantages when used for securing sagittal osteotomies of the mandible. This study evaluated 56 patients undergoing bilateral sagittal split osteotomies for mandibular advancements. Osteotomies were fixed with either a position screw or lag screw technique using 2-mm self-threading screws. Five cephalometric points and two angles were used to evaluate skeletal changes. There were no statistically significant differences in the postsurgical movement of point B or the mandibular incisor. There were slight statistically significant differences in the horizontal and vertical movements of gonion. Overall, similar postoperative stability existed in both groups. Gonion and gonial angle changes were detected cephalometrically but had no effect on the clinical outcome.     

A comparative study of skeletal and dental stability between rigid and wire fixation for mandibular advancement

This study examined the skeletal and dental stability after mandibular advancement surgery with rigid or wire fixation for up to 2 years after the surgery. Subjects for this multisite, prospective, randomized, clinical trial were assigned to receive rigid (n = 64) or wire (n = 63) fixation. The rigid cases received three 2-mm bicortical position screws bilaterally and elastics; the wire fixation subjects received inferior border wires and 6 weeks of skeletal maxillomandibular fixation with 24-gauge wires. Cephalometric films were obtained before surgery, and at 1 week, 8 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. Skeletal and dental changes were analyzed using the Johnston's analysis. Before surgery both groups were balanced with respect to linear and angular measurements of craniofacial morphology. Mean anterior advancement of the mandibular symphasis was 5.5 mm (SD, 3.2) in the rigid group and 5.6 mm (SD, 3.0) in the wire group. Two years after surgery, mandibular symphasis was unchanged in the rigid group, whereas the wire group had 26% of sagittal relapse. Dental compensation occurred to maintain the corrected occlusion, with the mandibular incisor moving forward in the wire group and posteriorly in the rigid group. However, at 2 years after surgery, when most subjects were without braces, the overjet and molar discrepancy had relapsed similarly in both groups.     

A comparison of skeletal and dental changesbetween rigid and wire fixation for bilateral sagittal split osteotomy

For two years, this multisite prospective clinical trial examined longitudinalskeletal and dental changes after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for mandibular advancement in which either rigid or wire fixation was used. Subjects in the rigid fixation group (n = 78) received 2-mm bicortical position screws, while the subjects in the wire fixation group (n = 49) received inferior border wires. Skeletal and dental changes were measured from cephalometric films taken immediately before surgery, one week after surgery, and at eight weeks, six months, one year, and two years after surgery. In both groups, the overbite and overjet increase with time, but were not different from each other. The B-point in the wire group progressively moved posteriorly, and at two years, it had relapsed 28%. In the rigid fixation group, there was a transient anterior movement of the B-point during the first six months and by two years after surgery, the B-point was unchanged from immediate post surgery. Dental changes occurred in both groups. These changes, however, were not able to accommodate the skeletal changes, resulting in similar increases in both overbite and overjet in both groups of patients. These results have implications for the orthodontists in management of the postmandibular advancement occlusion.     

两种不同内固定方法治疗下颌骨骨折的效果分析

目的 :对钢丝结扎内固定及小夹板内固定的治疗效果进行分析 ,以帮助医生确定适宜的内固定方法。方法 :对 86例下颌骨骨折进行上述两种内固定方法治疗。手术方案由主治医师及副主任医师制定。术后追踪随访 6周 ,记录术后咬牙合关系不良及开口时颞颌关节疼痛的发生情况 ,将术后合并症发生率与内固定方法、术者经验及骨折情况等因素一起进行统计学分析。结果 :两组不同内固定方法的治疗效果无显著性差异 ,但在双处骨折中 ,小夹板内固定的术后合并症发生率明显高于钢丝内固定组。两组医生完成的手术治疗效果无显著性差异 ,但主治医师完成的小夹板内固定术后合并症发生率明显高于副主任医师组。片层状断面或合并有片层状断面的骨折术后合并症发生率较高。结论 :影响下颌骨骨折治疗效果的因素有许多 ,选择适宜的内固定方法是取得良好治疗效果的关键。     

感染颌骨骨折的坚强内固定

目的：通过对感染颌骨骨折在清创同期进行坚强内固定的疗效调查，探讨坚强内固定技术在感染颌骨骨折中的应用价值。方法：收集1989-1999年北京大学口腔医学院收治的感染颌骨骨折在清创同期行钛板植入坚强内固定者14例，根据术前、术后临床及X线检查结果，分析骨折愈合情况及术后并发症。结果：除1例未随诊外，其余13例均发生正常骨愈合。术后出现并发症者4例，其中3例再次感染，1例下齿槽神经麻木。结论：感染的颌骨骨折在清创的同期进行坚强内固定治疗是可行的。     

Postsurgical maxillary movement: a comparison study of bone plate and screw versus wire osseous fixation

This study was designed to examine amounts of postoperative maxillary movement in patients who received Lefort I osteotomies, comparing bone plate and screw fixation with conventional transosseous wire fixation. Cephalograms of 17 patients whose maxillae were fixated with wire osseous fixation and 13 patients whose maxillae were fixed with bone plates and screws were compared at four different time periods throughout the first postoperative year. Millimeters of movement of five maxillary assessment points were assessed in the horizontal and vertical planes of space by use of a line constructed 7 degrees to sella-nasion at nasion as the horizontal reference. Results indicate that the amount of maxillary movement was similar for the two groups during the two time periods subsequent to the surgical procedure. However, it appears that the maxillae fixated with bone plates and screws were more stable than those with wire osteosynthesis during the last postoperative period (6 months to 1 year) and during the overall postoperative time interval (2 days to 1 year).     

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目的评价颌骨骨折口内切口坚强内固定的治疗效果。方法对内蒙古包头中心医院口腔科2002—2007年间收治的186例新鲜颌骨骨折患者采用口内进路暴露颌骨骨折部位(除外下颌升支及髁状突骨折),以钛板坚强内固定配合颌间弹力牵引使骨折段复位固定。结果186例患者182例软组织Ⅰ期愈合,口内咬合关系恢复良好,颌面部外形和咀嚼功能、开口度正常。结论口内切口坚强内固定是治疗颌骨骨折的一种适用手术进路。     

Maintenance of soft tissue changes after rigid versus wire fixation for mandibular advancement, with and without genioplasty

OBJECTIVE: This multisite prospective randomized clinical trial examined 2-year longitudinal soft tissue profile changes after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for mandibular advancement by using rigid or wire fixation, with and without genioplasty. STUDY DESIGN: The study sample consisted of 127 subjects. The rigid-fixation group (n = 78) received 2-mm bicortical position screws, whereas the wire-fixation group (n = 49) received inferior border wires. In the rigid-fixation group, 35 subjects underwent genioplasty, whereas 24 subjects underwent genioplasty in the wire-fixation group. Soft tissue profile changes of labrale inferius, B-point, and pogonion were obtained from digitized cephalometric films taken immediately before surgery and up to 2 years after surgery. RESULTS: Regardless of fixation technique, subjects who had genioplasty in conjunction with the mandibular advancement had the largest surgical movement and the largest postsurgical change (P <.05). When all variables were constant, fixation technique was associated with maintenance of soft tissue change. Subjects who underwent rigid fixation maintained more soft tissue change than patients who underwent wire fixation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that subjects undergoing rigid fixation and genioplasty maintained the most soft tissue advancement.     

Effects of wire and miniplate fixation on mandibular stability and TMJ symptoms following orthognathic surgery

The effects of wire and miniplate fixations on mandibular stability and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms were analyzed in 145 patients in whom mandibular prognathism had been corrected by the bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO). The subjects were divided into two groups based on the method of fixation. Group I consisted of 105 patients treated with intraosseous wiring and group II consisted of 40 patients treated with titanium miniplates. The mean maxillomandibular fixation periods for groups I and II were 48 days and 23 days, respectively. Lateral cephalograms were taken immediately before surgery, within a week after surgery, and at least a year after surgery. Changes in the positions of the incisal edge of the lower central incisors, point B, pogonion, and menton were examined. TMJs were examined clinically for pain, sounds, movements, and limitations before treatment and at least a year after surgery. In both groups, the mean of the horizontal relapses was correlated to the magnitude of their surgical movements. In group II, the mean horizontal relapse was smaller, but not significantly more than that of group I. There was no statistical difference in the pre‐ and postoperative incidence of TMJ signs and symptoms between the two groups. It can be concluded that miniplate fixation for the BSSO procedure has the advantages of shortening the maxillomandibular fixation period and maintaining the postoperative stability of the mandible without causing adverse effects on the TMJ.     

Skeletal stability following mandibular advancement and rigid fixation

Twenty non-growing subjects underwent sagittal ramus osteotomies and rigid fixation. Cephalograms were analyzed before surgery, immediately after surgery and at least six months following surgery to evaluate skeletal stability. A mean horizontal relapse of 0.42 mm (8%) and a mean vertical increase in lower face height of 0.2 mm were found six months after surgery. Both were statistically insignificant. The mean backward rotation of the mandible of 0.55 degrees found six months after surgery was statistically significant (P less than 0.015), but was considered to be clinically insignificant. The results of this study show that surgical mandibular advancement with rigid fixation is a very reliable and stable procedure.     

A financial analysis of maxillomandibular fixation versus rigid internal fixation for treatment of mandibular fractures.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of mandibular fracture treatment by closed reduction with maxillomandibular fixation (CRF) with open reduction and rigid internal fixation (ORIF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 85 patients admitted to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service at San Francisco General Hospital and treated for mandibular fractures from January 1 to December 31, 1993. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) those treated with CRF and 2) those treated with ORIF. The outcome variables were length of hospital stay, duration of anesthesia, and time in operating room. The charge for primary fracture treatment included the fees for the operation and hospitalization without any complications. Within the group of 85 patients treated for mandibular fractures in 1993, 10 patients treated with CRF and 10 patients treated with ORIF were randomly selected, and hospital billing statements were used to estimate the average charge of primary treatment. The average charge to manage a major postoperative infection also was estimated based on the billing statements of 10 randomly selected patients treated in 1992 (5 treated with CRF, 5 with ORIF) who required hospital admission for the management of a complication. The average total charge was computed by using the average charge for primary treatment plus the incidence of postoperative infection multiplied by the average charge for management of that complication. RESULTS: Eighty-five patients were included in the study. The average charge for primary treatment was $10,100 for the CRF group and $28,362 for the ORIF group. The average charge for the inpatient management of a major postoperative infection was $26,671 for the CRF group and $39,213 for the ORIF group. The average total charge for management of a mandible fracture with CRF was $10,927; the total charge for the ORIF group was $34,636. CONCLUSION: The results of this retrospective study suggest that the use of CRF in the management of mandibular fractures at our institution provides considerable savings over treatment by using ORIF. The use of ORIF should be reserved for patients and fracture types with specific indications.     

The skeletal stability of Le Fort I downfracture osteotomies with rigid fixation

Twenty subjects receiving Le Fort I downfracture osteotomies stabilized with rigid fixation were studied for relapse. The analysis was based on longitudinal cephalometric radiographs taken within 2 weeks presurgically, 1 week postsurgically, and after a minimum period of 6 months postsurgically. Vertical and sagittal changes in the maxilla were evaluated in reference to the Frankfort horizontal plane. It was found that the mean postsurgical relapse was minimal and not significant. It was smaller than that reported for patients who had received stabilization of the maxilla with intraosseous and maxillomandibular wiring. It was concluded that the rigid fixation technique is dependable and yields stable postsurgical results in the maxilla.     

Anterior open-bite malocclusion: stability of maxillary repositioning using rigid internal fixation

A retrospective cephalometric study was performed to investigate the stability of 37 non-growing anterior open-bite cases using mini-plate rigid fixation. The sample was divided into two groups: Group A: maxillary repositioning alone (17 cases) and Group B: bimaxillary surgery (20 cases). Tracings were performed pre-operatively (T1), immediately post-operatively (T2) and at a minimum of one year follow-up (T3) (12-90 months). In Group A, the maxilla was advanced (3.8 +/- 2.8 mm, p < 0.01) and superiorly repositioned at PNS (2.8 +/- 2.3 mm, p < 0.001). In Group B, the maxilla was advanced (3.5 +/- 3.0 mm, p < 0.01) and superiorly repositioned at PNS (3.7 +/- 1.8 mm, p < 0.001); and the mandible (11.7 +/- 3.8 mm, p < 0.001), with no significant change in the vertical plane (p > 0.05). Late relapse due to condylar remodelling or resorption was found as a cause of large horizontal relapse (8.0 < x < 14.0 mm) in three cases (15%), the amount being associated with the amount of operative advancement (r = 0.7, r-sq = 40%, p < 0.01). It was concluded that the correction of anterior open bite by posterior repositioning of the maxilla using rigid fixation is a stable procedure during the follow-up period, and that in bimaxillary cases, post-operative stability depends largely on the stability of the mandibular advancement, which in turn relates to the amounts of advancement, the pre-operative anterior open bite and the mandibular plane angle.