A Comparison Study of Temporomandibular Joint Symptoms in Patients Following Mandibular Advancement by Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomies: Rigid Fixation Versus Nonrigid Fixation

Abstract

Primary consideration must be given to the temporomandibular joint when planning and performing orthognathic surgical procedures. It has long been understood that the status of the temporomandibular joint can easily and unintentionally be altered during orthognathic surgery, regardless of the method of fixation used. With the advent of modern fixation techniques, many clinicians and investigators have questioned the effects of rigid fixation on the temporomandibular joint. To investigate this, a clinical study of 40 patients treated with mandibular advancement for retrognathism was performed. Twenty patients were treated with rigid fixation while another 20 patients had inferior border wires placed with anterior skeletal fixation. All patients were asked questions regarding the history of their temporomandibular joints. In addition, all patients received a clinical postoperative temporomandibular joints. In addition, all patients received a clinical postoperative temporomandibular joint evaluation. The results were statistically analyzed with the Chi-square analysis and Standard T test. It was determined that the Null Hypothesis could not be rejected for any of the symptoms evaluated in this study. The results support the belief that rigid fixation is no different when compared to wire osteosynthesis in terms of prevalence of temporomandibular joint symptoms.