A split ostectomy of mandibular body and angle reduction

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Anatomical Studies
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Conventional mandibular angle ostectomy techniques carry risks of inferior alveolar nerve injury.
• Angle-splitting ostectomy (ASO) is a proposed alternative for mandibular angle reduction.
• Understanding mandibular canal anatomy is crucial for surgical safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish anatomical guidelines for ASO to prevent inferior alveolar nerve damage.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ASO in cadaveric and clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• Detailed anatomical dissection of mandibular canals in seven human cadavers.
• Establishment of resection line guidelines based on vulnerable nerve areas.
• Pilot ASO procedures on five cadavers followed by application in two clinical cases.

Main Results:

• Identified the most vulnerable area of the inferior alveolar nerve along the gonion-osteoion (GO) line.
• Determined a safe resection limit of 17.5 mm above the GO line.
• Demonstrated that ASO allows safe lateral cortex removal, preserving the inferior alveolar nerve.

Conclusions:

• ASO is a safe and effective method for mandibular angle reduction.
• The established guidelines minimize the risk of inferior alveolar nerve injury during ASO.
• This technique offers a novel approach to mandibular contouring with reduced complications.