Roger A. West

Aseptic necrosis following maxillary osteotomies: report of 36 cases

The sequelae of insufficient vascularity following maxillary orthognathic surgery can vary from loss of tooth vitality, to periodontal defects, to tooth loss, to loss of major maxillary dentoalveolar segments. The results of a questionnaire mailed to oral and maxillofacial surgeons found this complication was most likely to occur with Le Fort I osteotomies done in multiple segments in conjunction with superior repositioning and transverse expansion. Significant palatal perforations definitely seem to compromise the already tenuous blood supply to the anterior maxilla. Suggestions are given regarding the prevention and treatment of this complication.

Condylar position following mandibular advancement: Its relationship to relapse

Forty-one patients who elected to receive a bilateral sagittal osteotomy to advance the mandible were examined clinically and radiographically to assess condylar position preoperatively and at three specific times postoperatively. Parameters designed to measure changes in condylar and distal fragment position were located on tracings and digitized for statistical analysis. Changes in distal fragment position included advancement and clockwise rotation during the surgical interval and significant posterior relapse with continued clockwise rotation during the period of maxillomandibular fixation. A small amount of counterclockwise rotation associated with interocclusal splint removal was seen following fixation release. No significant condylar movement was seen during the surgical interval. During the period of maxillomandibular fixation, both condyles exhibited a significant superior movement, and the left condyle also moved posteriorly. No changes in condylar position were noted following release of fixation. The clinical significance of these condylar movements is not clear. Despite minimal changes, 18 patients, six of whom had had no preoperative symptoms and one of whom had exhibited reciprocal clicking, complained of temporomandibular joint pain or noise postoperatively. This suggests that maintenance of condylar position during surgery may not prevent temporomandibular joint dysfunction. In addition, the observed 37% relapse in surgical advancement in the absence of significant condylar distraction implies the interaction of other factors in the relapse process.

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.

Major Vascular 'Complications of Orthognathic Surgery: Hemorrhage Associated With Le Fort I Osteotomies

Major intraoperative or postoperative bleeding associated with Le Fort I osteotomies can be venous and/or arterial in nature. Arterial hemorrhage generally involves the maxillary artery and its terminal branches. Arterial hemorrhage tends to be more persistent and can be recurrent, which makes it more difficult to manage. Postoperative bleeding following Le Fort I osteotomies generally presents as epistaxis and usually occurs initially within the first 2 weeks following surgery. Treatment modalities that have been used to successfully arrest postoperative hemorrhage include anterior and/or posterior nasal packing; packing of the maxillary antrum; reoperating with clipping or electrocoagulation of bleeding vessels, or the use of topical hemostatic agents in the pterygomaxillary region; external carotid artery ligation; and selective embolization of the maxillary artery and its terminal branches.

Major vascular complications of orthognathic surgery: False aneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas following orthognathic surgery

False aneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas are rare complications of orthognathic surgery. The vessel most commonly involved with false aneurysms following mandibular surgery is the internal maxillary artery, and this vessel, especially the sphenopalatine branch, may also be involved following maxillary surgery. An unusual factor in the presentation of false aneurysms following Le Fort I osteotomies is an initial episode of epistaxis occurring greater than 2 weeks postoperatively. Arteriovenous fistulas following orthognathic surgery are more apt to involve large vessels, especially the internal carotid artery. Embolization procedures are the treatment of choice for false aneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas in the maxillofacial region following orthognathic surgery.

The effect of mandibular osteotomy in three patients with hypersomnia sleep apnea

Hypersomnia sleep apnea (HSA) is characterized by apneic episodes during sleep and daytime hypersomnolence. Patients afflicted as a result of upper airway obstruction have been treated traditionally with permanent tracheostomy. Three patients with HSA and mandibular retrognathism are presented. Each patient had a retrognathic mandible that stemmed from a different cause. Surgical advancement of their underdeveloped mandibles corrected the symptoms of HSA rapidly. The literature concerning HSA is reviewed and the advantages of mandibular surgery in selected cases are discussed.

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.

Hemorrhage following mandibular osteotomies: A report of 21 cases

Hemorrhage associated with mandibular osteotomies, especially to the extent that it becomes life threatening, is a rare occurrence and its risk is less than that following maxillary orthognathic surgery. Twenty-one cases of significant bleeding following mandibular sagittal split ramus osteotomies, vertical and oblique ramus osteotomies, and genioplasties are presented. Life-threatening hemorrhage associated with mandibular osteotomies is primarily an intraoperative problem and the incidence of major postoperative and recurrent hemorrhage is not as great as following maxillary osteotomies. Suggestions for the avoidance and treatment of these bleeding complications are discussed.