R.William McNeill

Psychologic changes in orthognathic surgery patients: a 24-month follow up.

This report describes the final, two-year follow up in a longitudinal study of 74 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery for developmental deformities. Data for all six measurement periods were available for 46 patients. Complaints of functional problems decreased significantly from before surgery to 24 months after, although 49% of the patients continued to report lip paresthesia. The incidence of postsurgical problems had no effect on the satisfaction expressed with surgical outcomes, which remained high throughout the postoperative course. Self-esteem appeared to rise in anticipation of surgery, only to decline significantly at nine months after surgery, to rise again by 24 months (but not as high as before surgery). In some components, self-esteem remained significantly lower after surgery than before. Body image also showed a decline at nine months, although overall body image and profile image 20-26 months after surgery were significantly more positive than before surgery. These results point to the importance of continued contact with orthognathic surgery patients by surgeons and orthodontists for at least two years after surgery, particular attention being paid to the intermediate stages (six to 12 months) after surgery. This period of psychologic upheaval appears to be related to the patients desire to complete postsurgical orthodontics.

Surgical mandibular advancement: A cephalometric analysis of treatment response

Fifty-two cases of surgical advancement of the mandible were evaluated by retrospective cephalometric and computer analysis for longitudinal skeletal and dental changes an average of 3 1/2 years after surgery. Postsurgical treatment response appeared to be a multifactorial biologic phenomenon with considerable individual variability. Results showed generally good stability after mandibular advancement, with a minimal to moderate tendency toward skeletal relapse during intermaxillary fixation. Positional change of the proximal segment was the most important parameter in determining stability or relapse of the advanced mandible. Anteroinferior displacement of the condyle and increased posterior facial height were found to be important factors in the skeletal relapse observed during the period of intermaxillary fixation. The magnitude of mandibular advancement was a reliable surgical predictor of postsurgical relapse. Preoperative mandibular plane angle, postfixation intersegment instability, and patients age cannot be isolated as being solely responsible for specific postsurgical changes.

Predicting psychologic responses to orthognathic surgery

A longitudinal study was conducted of the psychologic characteristics of 74 persons undergoing orthognathic surgery. The effects of neuroticism, locus of control, and expectations upon postsurgical outcomes were examined. The majority of patients scored in the normal range of most personality variables. The findings suggest a generally intact ego and accurate self-concept among orthognathic surgery patients. Expectations of pain and parasthesia were the best predictors of postsurgical outcomes, while neuroticism and locus of control scores predicted some outcomes in the early postoperative stages. The results indicate the importance of preparing orthognathic surgery patients against unrealistic expectations before surgery is undertaken, and of counseling certain patients during the early postoperative period.

The emotional impact of orthognathic surgery and conventional orthodontics

Previous research by the authors has pointed to depressive reactions among orthognathic surgery patients during the fixation-removal stage and up to 9 months later. However, less is known about emotional shifts among persons who choose to undergo conventional orthodontic treatment after considering surgical orthodontics. In the current study, a standard measure of mood states was applied to 90 surgical patients and 66 who had considered surgery but decided against it. Of these, 33 were undergoing orthodontic treatment and 33 were having no treatment. The mood scale and measures of personality were first applied before surgery and then during orthodontic treatment, just after surgery, at fixation removal, and 6 months after surgery. Nonsurgical respondents completed questionnaires at the same time as their matched surgical respondents. Scores on tension and fatigue increased significantly among surgical patients from before surgery to immediately after surgery and dropped to presurgical levels when fixation was removed. Anger-hostility increased at fixation removal but declined within 5 months. Postsurgical discomfort, pain, and paresthesia, and interpersonal and oral function problems were correlated with postsurgery emotional state. On the later questionnaires, which corresponded to the later periods of orthodontic treatment, patients who had opted for conventional orthodontic treatment reported that they experienced greater depression, anger, and tension. These patients may be particularly vulnerable to emotional problems because their orthodontic treatment may be more complex and of longer duration than that of the typical orthodontic patient. These results point to the importance of continued psychological support for both orthodontic and surgical patients throughout their course of treatment.

Stability of mandibular advancement osteotomy using rigid internal fixation

Forty-three patients who underwent surgical lengthening of the mandible using an inverted L osteotomy, bone grafting, and rigid internal fixation between the mandibular segments were evaluated by retrospective cephalometric analysis for longitudinal skeletal and dental changes. Postoperative response (means = 1 year 9 months) was found to demonstrate a high level of stability with some individual variability. No propensity for relapse was observed in any postoperative time interval. Condylar repositioning postoperatively appeared to be an important factor in those patients who exhibited any relapse tendency. Overall postoperative stability of this surgical/fixation technique appears to be significantly improved compared with previously documented techniques.

Maxillary alveolar hyperplasia, diagnosis and treatment planning.

Literature pertaining to studies of the vertical relationships of the facial skeleton, the dentition, and the lips is reviewed. A surgical procedure for superior repositioning of the total maxillary alveolus is presented. The usefulness of the procedure to correct maxillary alveolar hyperplasia is illustrated with two case reports.

Surgical correction of vertical maxillary excess: A re-evaluation

Correction of vertical maxillary excess by Le Fort I osteotomy has become a widely accepted practice. Although the downfracture method is used almost exclusively in most major centres, the total maxillary alveolar osteotomy still has its advocates. Two patients surgically treated by total maxillary alveolar osteotomy and presented in this journal are re-evaluated with respect to the long-term stability of maxillary intrusion. Literature pertaining to the stability of the maxilla following intrusion by Le Fort I osteotomy and after various combinations of anterior and posterior maxillary ostectomy is reviewed. The advantages of the downfracture method are discussed. An alternative method of achieving the desired degree of intrusion is presented, which ensures more intimate bone contact.

Severe mandibular retrognathism: Orthodontic versus surgical orthodontic treatment

1. Treatment of Class II, Division 1 malocclusions should be accomplished by normalization of the abnormal structures that are identified diagnostically. 2. In the presence of mandibular retrognathism and unfavorable growth potential (limited amount, undesirable direction), surgical mandibular lengthening should be incorporated into the treatment plan. 3. Compensation for mandibular retrognathism by conventional orthodontic and facial orthopedic treatment incurs the risk of (a) increase in nasolabial angle, (b) reduction in upper lip support, (c) increase in lower facial concavity, (d) excessive proclination of lower incisors with compromise of labial periodontal support, and (e) protracted duration of appliance therapy and accompanying detrimental periodontal and root resorption effects.

Simultaneous maxillary advancement and closure of bilateral alveolar clefts and oronasal fistulas

Abstract A technique for simultaneous maxillary advancement with closure of alveolar clefts and oronasal fistulas in the patient with secondary cleft deformities and a Class III pattern of malocclusion resulting from maxillary hypoplasia is described. A case in which this technique was used is reported.

Condylysis in a patient with a mixed collagen vascular disease.

Condylysis has not previously been described as a complication of a mixed collagen vascular disease. A case is presented in which apertognathia and mandibular retrognathism occurred secondary to condylysis in a 26-year-old woman with features of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and Sjögrens syndrome. The disease was manifested by polyarthritis, morning stiffnes, subcutaneous nodules, and acrosclerosis. Important laboratory findings included RA slide latex negative, increased DNA binding, ANA positive, ENA negative, and an abnormal parotid scan. The malocclusion secondary to condylysis was corrected by surgical procedures usually employed for the treatment of mandibular retrognathism and apertognathia on a developmental basis.