Changes in facial width according to the ostectomy level of the proximal bone segment in intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy for mandibular prognathism

Orthognathic surgeries that are more commonly used to treat mandibular prognathism include intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO) and sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO). IVRO involves vertical osteotomy of the ramus of the mandible posterior to the mandibular foramen and subsequent mandibular setback by overlapping the mandibular bone segments, resulting in an increase in mandibular width [1, 2].

The process of osseous healing is similar for both SSRO and IVRO [3]. A long-term follow-up study on changes in facial width after surgery for mandibular prognathism reported that IVRO did not promote an increase in facial width [4].

IVRO requires an additional partial ostectomy of the proximal bone to adjust the length of the proximal bone segment to the distal mandibular bone ramus length after mandibular ramus osteotomy. To our knowledge, no study has investigated the changes in facial width in relation to the degree of ostectomy of the proximal bone segment during IVRO.

Recently, a common surgical approach has been to first perform preoperative orthognathic simulation surgery through analysis of the three-dimensional (3D) skeletal structure using maxillofacial computed tomography (CT) imaging and then perform the actual surgery based on this information [5]. The use of three-dimensional imaging allows researchers to conduct a more detailed facial measurement study of changes in facial width after ostectomy of the proximal bone segment in IVRO.

This study aimed to investigate changes in facial mandibular width in relation to the degree of ostectomy of the proximal bone segment in patients who underwent orthognathic IVRO mandibular setback surgery for mandibular prognathism.

The participants included patients diagnosed with class III malocclusion prior to surgery. The inclusion criteria were patients who underwent orthognathic surgery using IVRO, had a complete medical record with CT images, and did not have prior mandibular setback surgery. Patients were considered to have CT images when pre-, intra-, and post-orthognathic surgery CT images were obtained.

The exclusion criteria were as follows: patients who underwent other mandibular ramus surgical procedures such as SSRO, subcondylar osteotomy, and L-shaped ramus osteotomy; those who had missing CT images more than 1 year post-surgery; those who did not have preoperative three-dimensional analysis; those whose CT images were not retrieved; those who were diagnosed at different hospitals and received referral for orthognathic surgery at our hospital; and those whose surgical records lacked details. Only CT images with a slice thickness <1 mm were used in this study. In addition, patients with lesions causing changes in the mandible were excluded from this study. IVRO was defined as vertical osteotomy of the ramus along with partial ostectomy of the proximal segment of the mandibular ramus.

The surgical patients were categorized into two groups depending on the type of mandibular ostectomy level used on the proximal segment (Fig. 1). The mandibular tooth surface–level group (superior ostectomy group; SO group) comprised patients whose ostectomy height of the proximal bone segment was at the level of the mandibular tooth occlusal surface. The mandibular inferior border–level group (inferior ostectomy group IO group) comprised patients whose ostectomy height of the proximal bone segment was at the level of the mandibular inferior border cortex. During IVRO, the height of the proximal segment of the ramus to be osteotomized was determined. When cutting at the height of the tooth surface, the reciprocating saw should match the occlusal surface of the teeth to cut the proximal segment of the ramus. When cutting at the level of the inferior border of the mandible, the blade of the saw should be oriented the same as the lower edge of the mandible for cutting the proximal segment.

The preoperative and 1-year postoperative CT images were compared.

This retrospective study design complied with and was approved by the institutional review board (No. NHIMC-2021-02-017).

Of all the participants who met the inclusion criteria for the study of different proximal segment osteotomy techniques during IVRO, 22 constituted the superior ostectomy group (SO group), who underwent superior proximal segment osteotomy at the level of the mandibular tooth occlusal surface, and 10 constituted the inferior ostectomy group (IO group) who underwent inferior proximal segment osteotomy at the level of the mandibular inferior border cortex. There were no significant differences between the males and females in the two groups. The average ages (mean ± SD) of the participants in the SO and IO groups were 21.1 ± 3.3 years and 19.7 ± 2.6 years, respectively.

In the case of ST Width coronoid C/Alv-H, the postoperative change in facial soft tissue width (mean ± SD % compared with the preoperative measurement) in the SO group was 1.3 ± 3.5% and statistically significantly less than the 4.7 ± 5.6% change in the IO group (p = 0.050) (Table 4).

The postoperative ST Width coronoid C/Alv-H in the SO group increased over the preoperative width by 1.6 ± 4.2 mm and width in the IO group increased over the preoperative width by 5.6 ± 7.1 mm (p = 0.053) (Table 5).

In the case of B Width MnF-C/Mn F-H, the differences in facial widths in the SO group and the IO group (mean ± SD) were 5.8 ± 4.5 mm and 4.5 ± 5.6 mm, respectively, and compared with the preoperative measurement, they did not differ significantly (p = 0.507) (Table 5).

All facial widths and measurement ratios, excluding the ST Width coronoid C/Alv-H, did not differ significantly between the IO and SO groups.

When viewed on the Coronoid pr Coronal plane and Alveolar plane at the height of the mandibular first molar alveolar bone, the increase in facial soft tissue width compared with the preoperative width was statistically significantly smaller in the SO group (1.3%) than in the IO group (4.7%). The facial width increased by 1.6 mm on average in the SO group, whereas it increased by 5.6 mm in the IO group. The facial widths and measurement ratios showed no significant differences between the two different post-osteotomy proximal segment treatment groups, except for the ST Width coronoid C/Alv-H.

The results of this study suggest that the choice of the proximal segment ostectomy procedure in IVRO affects the postoperative facial width. There were clinical photographs of one patient before and after the surgery (Fig. 3) and 3D CT images of the patient 7 months after the postoperative orthodontic treatment in the superior ostectomy group (Fig. 4). However, it is difficult to accurately predict the movement of the proximal segment from the TMJ and the bone-healing progress after IVRO. In this study, the measurement point near the ramus osteotomy area could not be accurately defined, thus limiting the measurement of mandibular width in relation to the gonion and other features near the ramus osteotomy and bone-healing site. A future study to establish a consistent definition of anatomical reference points that considers the post-IVRO healing pattern is recommended.

Facial width in patients with mandibular prognathism and facial asymmetry can be measured using a facial soft tissue scanner or CT scan. To improve the study method of using clinical images to investigate facial width, a facial scanner can provide a 3D image of facial soft tissue [6], and the use of two cameras can also provide a 3D image of the face [7]. Future studies on orthognathic surgery using 3D images and changes in facial soft tissue and bone can be expected in the case of various osteotomy procedures. Furthermore, a study that investigates various changes in the face according to proximal segment osteotomy and treatment approach is necessary.

The results of this study show that there is a difference in facial width associated with the ostectomy level of the proximal segment after orthognathic surgery using IVRO. Although a statistically significant association between facial structure and postoperative bone-healing prognosis can be expected, the masseter muscle with the mandibular ramus must be considered. The functionality of the masseter muscle affects the facial structure, and accurate prediction of the movement and direction of this muscle may be challenging [8]. A study method to identify the size and location of the facial muscles and an assessment tool, such as electromyography, may be required.

In this study, the coronal and horizontal planes were used to set the measurement points. Patients requiring orthognathic surgery have mandibular prognathism and facial asymmetry. For these patients, the reference points necessary to set a three-dimensional measurement plane are asymmetric, contributing to a distorted 3D plane and measurement errors in the preoperative CT image data. This study used three-dimensional measurement planes that are being used or can be used in clinical settings. Coronal planes with the condyle, sigmoid notch, and coronoid process were associated with the anterior and posterior lengths of the ramus. The coronoid process, sigmoid notch, and condyle are reliable reference points for measuring the mandible [9].

Researchers must consider that the horizontal length of the ramus is shortened after mandibular setback surgery with IVRO. In particular, the bony reference point in the mandible may be unreliable according to the various bone-healing patterns in the mandibular gonial angle area. Moreover, the coronal and horizontal planes of the mandible (such as the coronal and alveolar planes) may not intersect at the mandibular angle area. This occurs when the mandibular angle is more obtuse, especially in cases of severe mandibular prognathism. The current study showed numerous missing values of the mandibular bone, because the posterior inferior part of the ramus cannot be identified due to the healing patterns of mandibular ramus osteotomy, location, and/or shape of osteotomy. Therefore, there were only two measurements of bone width in this study, although there were nine measurements of soft tissue width. The use of bone width measurement is a drawback, as its use is limited in a clinical setting.

A previous study reported that the use of SSRO, a surgical approach for mandibular setback, and mandibular angle ostectomy together contributed to a decrease in the facial mandibular width [10]. Another study on the association between IVRO and facial width reported a horizontal increase in facial width after orthognathic surgery [1]. However, a previous study found that facial width temporarily increases post-IVRO and that facial soft tissue subsequently returns to the preoperative state [11]. Another study did not find a statistically significant difference in the postoperative horizontal width of the mandible between the two surgical approaches, SSRO and IVRO [2]. In addition to the study on mandibular width, a study on bone-healing patterns after SSRO and IVRO reported that the healing patterns of mandibular bone after SSRO and IVRO are similar [3]. A study on facial width after IVRO found that although the mandibular width increased immediately post-IVRO, it gradually decreased and returned to its original width within approximately 3 years. Thus, the study reported that IVRO was not associated with long-term changes in facial width [4]. In a study that compared a group of people with facial asymmetry post-IVRO and a group of people with facial symmetry, the results showed that IVRO did not lead to changes in the transverse profile of the face, thus increasing the predictability of the aesthetic results of surgery. In addition, the study found no differences in facial soft tissue and hard tissue between groups with facial symmetry and facial asymmetry as time progressed [12].

The limitations of this study were that the study used anatomical features of the mandible as measurement points, which may not correspond to the facial width determined in clinical practice. In the case of IVRO, unlike L-osteotomy, both the mandibular distal segment and coronoid process move posteriorly. The actual preoperative and postoperative locations of the coronoid process and the anteroposterior length of the ramus are different. Although the facial width remains the same, it may appear as if there is a change, depending on the anterior and posterior location of the mandible due to differences in the size depending on the perspective distance. The posteriorly relocated mandibular bone appears smaller when observed anteriorly. The distance of the posterior movement of the mandibular bone also affects its appearance. A future study is needed with the skull as the reference, or with the eye and head position fixed, and changes in facial width evaluated according to the distance between the viewer and the face when viewed anteriorly. Due to the small number of subjects in this study, it was not possible to analyze the differences according to various facial shapes. In addition, it is necessary to discuss the measurement points and methods with high reproducibility and reliability according to various face patterns for IVRO research.

The IVRO technique has undergone various modifications [13]. The facial width can be adjusted by performing osteotomy in a J-shape rather than vertical to the mandibular ramus. This study investigated the effect of ostectomy of the proximal segment of the vertical ramus osteotomy; thus, further study on facial width using modified IVRO, including that with distal mandibular segment ostectomy, is required [14].

In the case of simultaneous operation of the maxilla and mandible, when the amount of posterior maxillary impaction is large, excessive osteotomy may occur during proximal segment osteotomy at the height of the tooth occlusal surface level during IVRO, and aesthetic issues may arise due to postoperative stability, bone fusion, and the angle of the mandibular area. This study included 32 participants. Considering the various orthognathic surgeries, additional research and analysis of the surgical techniques used on the proximal segment during IVRO, targeting numerous patients at multiple facilities, would further provide information on postoperative stability, bone healing, and facial width and function.

The present study demonstrated increased facial width after orthognathic surgery with IVRO, which was consistent with the results of previous studies. However, when proximal segment ostectomy is performed at the level of the mandibular tooth occlusal surface, the facial width at the height of the mandibular first molar alveolar bone and the anteroposterior location of the coronoid process may not increase significantly. In addition, the face may appear aesthetically small, considering the distance of posterior mandibular movement.