Akinori Moroi

Changes in temporomandibular joint and ramus after sagittal split ramus osteotomy in mandibular prognathism patients with and without asymmetry

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and ramus after sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) with and without Le Fort I osteotomy. The subjects consisted of 87 Japanese patients diagnosed with mandibular prognathism with and without asymmetry. They were divided into 2 groups (42 symmetric patients and 45 asymmetric patients). The TMJ disc tissue was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the TMJ space, condylar and ramus angle were assessed by computed tomography (CT) preoperatively and postoperatively. Medial joint space on the deviation side in the asymmetry group was significantly larger than that in the symmetry group (P = 0.0043), and coronal ramus angle on the non-deviation side in the asymmetry group was significantly larger than that in the symmetry group preoperatively (P = 0.0240). The horizontal condylar angle on the deviation side in the asymmetry group was significantly larger than that in the symmetry group (P = 0.0302), posterior joint space on the non-deviation side in the symmetry group was significantly larger than that in the asymmetry group postoperatively (P = 0.00391). The postoperative anterior joint space was significantly larger than the preoperative value on both sides in both groups (the deviation side in the symmetry group: P = 0.0016, the non-deviation side in the symmetry group: P < 0.0001, the deviation side in the asymmetry group: P = 0.0040, the non-deviation side in the asymmetry group: P = 0.0024). The preoperative disc position could was not changed in either group. These results suggest that significant expansion of anterior joint space could occur on the deviation side and non-deviation side in the asymmetry group as well as on both sides in the symmetry group, although disc position did not change in either group.

Skeletal stability after mandibular setback surgery: comparisons among unsintered hydroxyapatite/poly-L-lactic acid plate, poly-L-lactic acid plate, and titanium plate.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to compare the time-course changes in condylar long-axis and skeletal stability after sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) with an unsintered hydroxyapatite (u-HA)/poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) plate, PLLA plate, or titanium plate. PATIENTS AND METHODS Of 60 Japanese patients diagnosed with mandibular prognathism, 20 underwent SSRO with a u-HA/PLLA plate system, 20 underwent SSRO with a PLLA plate system, and 20 underwent SSRO with a conventional titanium plate system. The time-course changes in condylar long-axis and skeletal stability were assessed by use of axial, frontal, and lateral cephalograms. RESULTS Compared with the u-HA/PLLA group, the titanium group showed a significantly greater change in the right condyle angle between initially and 1 month (P = .0105) and intercondylar axes angle between 1 and 3 months (P = .0013). The PLLA group showed a significantly greater change than the titanium group (P = .0043) and u-HA/PLLA group (P = .0002) in terms of ramus inclination between 1 and 3 months; however, there were no significant differences among the 3 groups in the other measurements for each time interval. CONCLUSION This study suggests that there are no significant differences in postoperative time-course changes among a u-HA/PLLA plate system, PLLA plate system, and conventional titanium plate system.

Assessment of bone healing after Le Fort I osteotomy with 3-dimensional computed tomography

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine bone healing after Le Fort I osteotomy in Class III patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study group consisted of 18 Japanese patients with mandibular prognathism with and without asymmetry, maxillary retrognathism or open bite. A total of 36 sides were examined. Le Fort I osteotomy was performed without a pterygoid osteotome, with an ultrasonic curette used to remove interference at the pterygomaxillary region. Titanium plates (Universal Mid-face fixation module, Stryker, Freiburg, German) were used for four patients, absorbable plates (poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA): NEOFIX(®), Gunze, kyoto, Japan) were used for four patients and other absorbable plates (uncalcined and unsintered hydroxyapatite and poly-L-lactic acid (uHA/PLLA): super FIXSORB(®)MX, Takiron Co. Ltd, Osaka, Japan) were used for 10 patients, in the same manner. Postoperative computed tomography (CT) was analyzed for all patients pre-operatively and 1 year postoperative. The anterior and lateral areas between the maxillary segments were measured with 3-dimensional (3D) CT. Bone healing at the pterygomaxillary region was also assessed. RESULTS There were no significant differences in the area of bone defect healing among the plate types. The areas of bone defect after 1 year were significantly smaller than that immediately after surgery on the right side (p=0.0145) and left side (p=0.0010) in the frontal view and right side in the lateral view (p=0.0118). Bone healing at the pterygomaxillary junction was found in all cases without artificial pterygoid plate fracture. Fourteen of 22 sides with artificial pterygoid plate fracture by an ultrasonic curette showed bone continuity between the pterygoid plate and posterior part of maxilla. CONCLUSION This study suggested that bony healing could occur in spaces between the segments of maxilla and pterygomaxillary regions as well as the region of the anterior and lateral walls in the maxilla, but it is not always complete within 1 year after Le Fort I osteotomy.

A hypothesis on the desired postoperative position of the condyle in orthognathic surgery: a review.

It is very important to clarify the relationship between a dentofacial structure and a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) structure in orthognathic surgery. Recently, it was reported that the skeletal and occlusal patterns were associated with the TMJ morphology, including the disk position. In orthognathic surgery, some surgeons state that alterations in the condylar position from surgery can lead to malocclusion associated with the risk of early relapse, and also favor the development of temporomandibular disorders. For these reasons, several positioning devices have been proposed and applied, but now there is no scientific evidence to support the use of condylar positioning devices. There are some reasons why scientific evidence cannot be obtained; however, it also includes the question of whether the preoperative position of the condyle is the desired postoperative position. The purpose of this study was to verify the desired condylar position in orthognathic surgery, based on literature on the postoperative condylar position in orthognathic surgery. From the studies reviewed, it was suggested that the preoperative position of the condyle was not the desired postoperative position in orthognathic surgery.

Bone healing of critical‐sized nasal defects in rabbits by statins in two different carriers

OBJECTIVES To evaluate bone healing following implantation of a statin with two different carriers in rabbit nasal bone using histological and immunohistochemical methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty adult, male Japanese white rabbits (age: 12-16 weeks, weight: 2.5-3 kg) were used in this study. Five bone circular defects (5 mm in diameter) per rabbit were created in the nasal bone while preserving the nasal membrane. In the experimental groups, 2.5 mg/ml simvastatin dissolved in 0.2 ml water with hydrogel was implanted in one group, 2.5 mg/ml simvastatin dissolved in 0.2 ml water with an atelocollagen sponge (ACS) in the second group with, only the hydrogel in the third group and only an ACS in the fourth group. No material was implanted in the control group. Four animals were killed in each period, at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively. The parts that had been operated on were removed and prepared for histological assessment. The expression of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP)-2 and the bone ration was evaluated using histological and immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS No significant differences were observed between the simvastatin with hydrogel group and the simvastatin with ACS group at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively regarding expression of BMP-2, although the number of cells that stained positive for BMP-2 in both of the implanted groups increased significantly at 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively in comparison with the control group (P<0.0001). For new bone area ratio, there were no significant differences between the simvastatin with hydrogel groups and the simvastatin with ACS group after 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks, although these groups showed higher value than control group (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION This study suggests that both the simvastatin with hydrogel and simvastatin with ACS implants showed similar BMP-2 expression and new bone formation, and there were no significant differences between the two carriers.

Effect of self-setting α-tricalcium phosphate between segments for bone healing and hypoaesthesia in lower lip after sagittal split ramus osteotomy

AIMS The aim of this study was to evaluate hypoaesthesia of the lower lip and bone formation using self-setting α-tricalcium phosphate (Biopex(®)) between the proximal and distal segments following sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) with bent absorbable plate fixation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The subjects were 40 patients (80 sides) who underwent bilateral SSRO setback surgery. They were divided into a Biopex(®) group (40 sides) and a control group (40 sides). The Biopex(®) was inserted into the anterior part of the gap between the segments in the Biopex(®) group. Trigeminal nerve hypoaesthesia in the region of the lower lip was assessed bilaterally using the trigeminal somatosensory-evoked potential (TSEP) method. Ramus square, ramus length, and ramus width, the square of the Biopex(®) at the horizontal plane under the mandibular foramen were assessed preoperatively, immediately after surgery, and 1year postoperatively by computed tomography (CT). RESULTS The mean measurable period and standard deviation were 9.3±15.7weeks in the control group, 5.3±8.3weeks in the Biopex(®) group, and there was no significant difference. Ramus square after 1year was significantly larger than that prior to surgery and new bone formation was found between the segments in both groups (P<0.05). In the Biopex(®) group, the square of the Biopex(®) after 1year was significantly smaller than that immediately after surgery (P<0.05). CONCLUSION This study suggested that inserting Biopex(®) in the gap between the proximal and distal segments was useful for new bone formation and it did not prevent the recovery of lower lip hypoaesthesia after SSRO with bent absorbable plate fixation.

Assessment of bone healing and hypoesthesia in the upper lip after Le Fort I osteotomy with self-setting α-tricalcium phosphate and absorbable plates

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate hypoesthesia of the upper lip and bone formation using self-setting α-tricalcium phosphate (Biopex(®)) between the segments following Le Fort I osteotomy with bent absorbable plate fixation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The subjects were 47 patients (94 sides) who underwent Le Fort I osteotomy with and without mandibular osteotomy. They were divided into a Biopex(®) group (48 sides) and a control group (46 sides). The Biopex(®) was inserted into the anterior part of the gap between the segments in the Biopex(®) group. Trigeminal nerve hypoesthesia at the region of the upper lip was assessed bilaterally by the trigeminal somatosensory-evoked potential (TSEP) method. The area of the Biopex(®) at the anterior part in the maxilla was assessed immediately after surgery and 1 year postoperatively by computed tomography (CT). RESULTS The mean measurable period and standard deviation were 13.2 ± 18.5 weeks in the control group, 14.5 ± 17.9 weeks in the Biopex(®) group, and there was no significant difference in TSEP. The area of the Biopex(®) after 1 year was significantly smaller than that immediately after surgery (right side: P = 0.0024, left side: P = 0.0001) and bone defects between the segments could not be found in the Biopex(®) group. In the control group, although the areas of bone defect after 1 year were significantly smaller than that immediately after surgery on the right side (P = 0.0133) and left side (P = 0.0469) in the frontal view, complete healing of the bone defects could be seen in 12 of 46 sides after 1 year. CONCLUSION This study suggested that inserting Biopex(®) in the gap between the maxillary segments was useful for new bone formation and it did not prevent the recovery of upper lip hypoesthesia after Le Fort I osteotomy with absorbable plate fixation.

Changes in the lip closing force of patients with Class III malocclusion before and after orthognathic surgery

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in lip pressure before and after orthognathic surgery for skeletal class III patients. The subject groups were 32 female and 31 male patients diagnosed with mandibular prognathism and/or maxillary retrognathism who underwent orthognathic surgery. Control groups consisted of 20 women and 20 men with normal occlusion without dento-alveolar deformity. Maximum and minimum lip closing force was measured with Lip De Cum® for the control groups and subject groups preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. The difference between the pre- and postoperative values of the groups was examined statistically. The maximum lip closing force in men was significantly larger than that in women in both the preoperative class III group (p=0.0330) and the control group (p=0.0097). The preoperative class III group was significantly smaller than the control group in maximum lip closing force in both men (p<0.0001) and women (p<0.0001). The postoperative maximum lip closing force was significantly larger than the preoperative value in both men (p=0.0037) and women (p=0.0273) in the Class III group. This study suggested that the maximum lip closing force increases after orthognathic surgery in Class III patients.

Bone regeneration by statin and low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) in rabbit nasal bone.

OBJECTIVES To compare bone regeneration between local implantation of statin and low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), and the combination of statin with LIPUS in rabbit nasal bone using histological and immunohistochemical methods. STUDY DESIGN Thirty-two adult male Japanese white rabbits (age: 12-16 weeks, weight: 2.5-3.0 kg) were used in this study. Two bone circular defects (5 mm in diameter) per rabbit were created in the nasal bone while preserving the nasal membrane. The two defects in each rabbit were filled with 2.5 mg/ml simvastatin in 0.2 ml water with an atelocollagen sponge (ACS) and ACS alone respectively. Sixteen rabbits (32 sides) received the LIPUS application; the remaining 16 rabbits (32 sides) did not. Therefore, the subjects composed of 4 groups, namely, (1) LIPUS + ACS + simvastatin (the LAS group), (2) LIPUS + ACS (the LA group), (3) ACS + simvastatin (the AS group) and (4) ACS alone (the A group). Four animals were killed in each period, at 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks postoperative. The parts that had been operated on were removed and prepared for histological assessment. The expression of BMP-2 and the bone area ratio were evaluated using histological and immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS Bone square in the LAS group was significantly larger than that in the AS group after 1 (P < 0.0001) and 2 week (P = 0.0113). The bone square in the LA group was significantly larger than that in the A group after 1 (P < 0.0001) and 2 weeks (P = 0.0090). However, there was no significant difference between the LAS and LA groups. In the number of cells that stained positive for BMP-2, the LAS group was significantly larger than that in the AS group after 1 (P < 0.0001) and 2 weeks (P = 0.0113). CONCLUSION This study suggests that bone regeneration can be promoted by LIPUS alone and statin alone, respectively. However the combination use of LIPUS with statin does not differ from LIPUS alone or statin alone.

Maxillary stability after Le Fort I osteotomy using three different plate systems.

The purpose of this study was to compare postoperative changes in maxillary stability after Le Fort I osteotomy in three groups: with an unsintered hydroxyapatite (u-HA)/poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) plate; a PLLA plate; and a titanium plate. Subjects comprised 60 Japanese patients diagnosed with mandibular prognathism. All patients underwent Le Fort I osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy. All patients were randomized in groups of 20 to a u-HA/PLLA group, a PLLA plate group and a titanium plate group. Changes in postoperative time intervals between the plate groups were compared using lateral and posteroanterior cephalography. The uHA/PLLA group had significantly larger values than the PLLA group regarding change of mx1-S perpendicular to SN between 3 and 12 months (T3) (P=0.0269). The uHA/PLLA group had a significantly larger value than the PLLA group regarding change of S-A perpendicular to SN between baseline and 1 month (T1) (P=0.0257). There was no significant difference in the other measurements. This study suggests that maxillary stability with satisfactory results could be obtained in the u-HA/PLLA, PLLA plate and titanium plate groups, although there was a slight difference between the u-HA/PLLA and PLLA plate systems in Le Fort I osteotomy.