Bone changes after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for mandibular prognathism

Park, Hyun Jung; Jung, Yun Hoa; Cho, Bong Hae

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to study bone changes after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy through fractal analysis and measurement of mandibular cortical thickness.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study included twenty-two prognathic patients who underwent bilateral sagittal split osteotomy. Panoramic radiographs of these patients were taken immediately before operation and at 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively. The fractal dimension was measured by the box-counting method in the region of interest centered on both the basal and interdental bones between the first and second mandibular molars. Measurements of mandibular cortical thickness were taken both in the area between the first and second mandibular molars and at the osteotomy site. Changes of fractal dimension and cortical thickness over four stages were statistically analyzed.
RESULTS
The fractal dimension of the mandibular basal bone before surgery and after 1 month, 6 months and 12 months were 1.4099+/-0.0657, 1.382+/-0.0595, 1.2995+/-0.0949, and 1.4166+/-0.0676, respectively (Repeatedmeasures ANOVA, P <0.001). However, no statistically significant differences were noted in interdental fractal dimensions among the four stages. Mandibular cortical thickness between the first and second mandibular molars before operation and after 1 month, 6 months and 12 months was 3.74+/-0.48 mm, 3.63+/-0.47 mm, 3.41+/-0.61mm and 3.55+/-0.66mm(P <0.01), respectively. Mandibular cortical thickness at the osteotomy site at each of the four stages was 3.22+/-0.44 mm, 2.87+/-0.59 mm, 2.37+/-0.61 mm and 2.64+/-0.62 mm, respectively (P <0.001).
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that the mandibular tissue continued decreasing for 6 months postoperatively and then increased over the subsequent 6 months.