The hierarchy of stability and predictability in orthognathic surgery with rigid fixation: an update and extension
2007

Stability and Predictability in Orthognathic Surgery

Sample size: 1475 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): William R Proffit, Timothy A Turvey, Ceib Phillips

Primary Institution: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Hypothesis

A hierarchy of stability exists among the types of surgical movements that are possible with orthognathic surgery.

Conclusion

The study found that while many patients experience skeletal changes after orthognathic surgery, clinically satisfactory results can be maintained long-term in the majority of cases.

Supporting Evidence

  • The study updates a previous hierarchy of stability related to surgical movements.
  • Patients treated for Class II/long face problems tend to be more stable than those treated for Class III problems.
  • Clinically relevant changes occur in a significant percentage of patients from one to five years post-treatment.

Takeaway

This study looks at how stable jaw surgeries are over time, showing that some surgeries work better than others and that many patients will see changes in their jaw position years after surgery.

Methodology

The study analyzed data from a database of 2264 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery, focusing on stability measured through cephalometric radiographs.

Limitations

The study primarily reflects outcomes from a single institution and may not generalize to all surgical practices.

Participant Demographics

Patients who underwent orthognathic surgery at the University of North Carolina, with a focus on Class II and Class III malocclusions.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1746-160X-3-21

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