Clinicostatistical Study on Changes of Temporomandibular Joint Symptoms, before and after Orthognathic Surgery

Abstract

Clinical dysfunctional symptoms (clicking and pain) of the temporomandibular joint in 278 patients before and after orthognathic surgery were reviewed retrospectively following orthognathic surgery. All patients underwent bilateral sagittal splitting osteotomy for correction of the mandibular prognathism. The sapphire screws were applied for rigid internal fixation of the fragments in 235 patients and the circumferential wire fixation was performed in 43 patients.
A significant difference in the period of intermaxillary fixation was found for patients were applied screw fixation (an average of 10.9 days) than those who were applied wire fixation (an average of 33.5 days).
It was found that the incidence of temporomandibular joint symptoms in patients who were applied screw fixation had significantly decreased than those who were applied wire fixation after surgery. In addition, the incidence of symptomatic patients with mandibular asymmetry was higher than those with symmetry, preoperatively.