Orthognathic surgery in craniomaxillofacial fibrous dysplasia

In craniomaxillofacial fibrous dysplasia, jaw involvement often causes facial asymmetry, an occlusal cant, and loss of teeth. Although conservative management of fibrous dysplasia affecting the jaws is widely practiced, orthognathic surgery is indicated in such cases to restore occlusion and correct dentofacial deformity brought on by the disease process. Since 1981, the Craniofacial Center at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan has treated a total of 84 patients with craniomaxillofacial fibrous dysplasia. Of these, 55 (65%) had fibrous dysplasia affecting the jaws (Zone 4). Between 1988 and 1997, orthognathic surgery was performed on 1 male and 4 female patients with fibrous dysplasia involving the teeth-bearing jaws. One patient had localized fibrous dysplasia that involved the mandible. The other 4 patients had polyostotic craniofacial involvement of Zones 1, 2, or 3 and 4A. The patient with isolated mandibular involvement and 2 patients with maxillary fibrous dysplasia had single-jaw surgery. The other 2 patients with maxillary involvement required simultaneous two-jaw surgery to correct the dentofacial deformities resulting from the disease process. Follow-up ranged from 12 months to 9 years. All the patients had stable occlusion, good facial aesthetics, and no further recurrence after surgery. The long-term stability of the achieved occlusion and facial appearance confirms that adequate healing in fibrodysplastic bone is to be expected using the standard fixation.