Preoperative Intermaxillary Fixation has no Influence on Weight Loss Induced by Vertical Banded Gastroplasty

Surgery is the only therapeutic modality that has shown lasting results in the treatment of morbid obesity. Ability to lose weight by voluntary dieting has been associated with unsatisfactory weight loss after gastroplasty. This report examines the effect of preoperative inter-maxillary fixation (IMF) on weight reduction induced by vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG). Twenty-four patients entered the study and were randomly assigned to either 10 weeks of IMF or 10 weeks on the waiting-list. Patient groups were similar in respect to age, gender and Body Mass Index (BMI). All patients were urged to lose weight preoperatively. Patients in the IMF group lost 18 kg (-12 to -36; median, range) and the waiting list group lost 3 kg (+ 3 to -30) during the 10 weeks prior to surgery. Total weight loss from time of inclusion to 24 months postoperatively was the same in both groups. Our results suggest that weight loss up to 2 years after VBG is not Influenced by short-term preoperative IMF. Although we found no obvious advantage in having patients pre-treated by IMF, our findings indicate that jaw wiring can be used for patients in whom moderate preoperative weight loss is desired without endangering the effect of VBG on body weight development.