|
Previous studies have documented the stability of Class III surgical procedures
in the first postsurgical year and during a postsurgical period
> 2 years. To evaluate long-term changes, postoperative cephalometric
radiographs at 1 year and ≥ 5 years were digitized for 79 patients
who had received either a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for
mandibular setback, a Le Fort I maxillary advancement, or a combination
of the 2 procedures. From 1 year to longest follow-up, the mean
changes were quite small. Eighty-five percent of the maxillary advancement
group and the mandibular setback group and 80% of the
bimaxillary surgery group showed less than 4 mm of postsurgical
change from 1 year to ≥ 5 years. Long-term, the mandibular setback
alone was more stable than when combined with maxillary surgery.
This is opposite of what was observed during the first postsurgical
year. Bimaxillary surgery in Class III patients improved the stability of
the mandibular setback short-term and the maxillary advancement in
the short and long term if the maxilla was also moved down during
surgery. This study also suggests that bimaxillary surgery in Class III
patients is more stable than bimaxillary surgery in Class II patients.On
questionnaires that evaluated patient perception, 92% of patients reported
satisfaction with healing since surgery. Eighty-nine percent
thought their experience was positive and were happy with the surgical
results. The predominant problems were altered feelings in the face
or mouth (68%) and surprise at the length of their recovery (41%).
|