Postoperative relapse after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy of the mandible for correction of dentofacial deformity: Is it common?

Aim To investigate the effect of the magnitude of mandibular movement during bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) on the incidence of postoperative relapse. Patients and methods The present cohort study included patients presented to the Maxillofacial Unit, General Surgery Department, Assiut University Hospital, Egypt. All patients underwent BSSO to correct class II malocclusion. Patients were divided into two groups, the first group included patients with mandibular movement less than 7mm and the second group included patients with mandibular movement more than 7mm. Then, we investigated the incidence of postoperative relapse in both groups. Results The study included 32 patients (64 sides). The first group included 24 patients (48 sides) and the second group included eight patients (16 sides). The incidence of postoperative relapse is 12.5%. Conclusion magnitude of mandibular movement more than 7mm during BSSO is considered to be a risk factor for postoperative relapse.