Evaluation of lingual fracture pattern of the mandible after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy with and without inferior border osteotomy

Abstract

The Purpose of the study was to evaluate the pattern of lingual split when performing a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) with different osteotomy methods. A total of 15 dry human cadaveric mandibles was taken for the study. The classical Epker technique of BSSO was performed on the left side. The same was done on the right side along with an-additional inferior border osteotomy. There resultant split was assessed based on modified lingual split scale. The maximum torque force that was needed to split the mandible was recorded and the fracture pattern was observed. Similar osteotomies were performed in 15 fresh goat mandibles which acted as control group. The human cadaveric dry mandible recorded an average torque of 12.6 +2.4 Nm (SD: 0.32) with a maximum of 16.0 Nm and a minimum of 8.0 Nm on left side.80% of the mandible were Type I fracture pattern and 20% had Type III fracture pattern. In contrast with the modified BSSO technique with an additional inferior border osteotomy required a maximal torque of 12.0 N and a minimal torque of 5.0 with an average required torque of 8.7 + 2.1 N on the right side of the mandible.