A simplified sagittal split osteotomy of the mandibular ramus: A single-cut approach for orthognathic surgery

TL;DR

This study introduces a simplified surgical technique for jaw repositioning that is effective and has fewer complications.

Contribution

A new simplified sagittal osteotomy technique is proposed, reducing surgical complexity and complications in orthognathic procedures.

Findings

The simplified sagittal osteotomy was feasible in 98.7% of cases without conversion to traditional methods.

Complications like IAN injury and paresthesia were rare, with no major hemorrhage or dental injuries reported.

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, and reliability of a novel simplified sagittal osteotomy (SSO) technique for mandibular repositioning in orthognathic surgery. The research question focuses on whether this approach can reduce technical complexity and complication rates, especially in a residency training environment.

A prospective observational study was conducted involving 118 patients (62 females, 56 males) diagnosed with Angle Class II or III malocclusions and indicated for orthognathic surgery. All patients underwent a novel mandibular osteotomy as part of a Double-jaw surgery. Exclusion criteria included patients under 18 years of age, third molar presence, mandibular pathologies, and incomplete follow-up. The primary outcomes included feasibility, complication rates, and the need for conversion to the conventional BSSO. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test.

A total of 236 osteotomies were performed. The technique was considered feasible in 98.7% of cases, with no conversions to traditional BSSO. No bad splits occurred. IAN injury was observed in 0.8% of cases, and long-term paresthesia (>1 year) occurred in 1.2%. No cases of hemorrhage or dental injury were reported. No significant associations were found between complications and patient gender or deformity type (p>0.05).

The SSO technique demonstrated high feasibility and a low complication profile, supporting its use as a reliable alternative to BSSO.

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