Body fat composition and weight changes after double-jaw osteotomy

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Nutritional Science
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Nutritional status is crucial for post-surgical recovery.
• Dentofacial deformities often require complex surgical interventions like double-jaw osteotomy.
• Understanding perioperative nutritional changes is vital for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in body weight and body composition in patients with dentofacial deformities following double-jaw osteotomy.
• To assess the impact of interocclusal splint use on nutritional status in the early postoperative period.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 30 Angle class 3 patients who underwent double-jaw osteotomy.
• Body weight, fat mass, and fat-free mass were measured using a bioimpedance method (Tanita Composition Analyzer 310) pre-surgery and one month post-surgery.
• Statistical analysis was performed using the paired-sample t-test.

Main Results:

• Female patients showed significant pre-operative weight, BMI, fat mass, and fat-free mass variations.
• No significant pre-operative nutritional parameter changes were observed in male patients.
• Weight gain occurred in 30% of patients; however, underweight patients did not gain weight. No sex-based differences in weight or fat composition changes were noted post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Interocclusal splint use in female patients undergoing double-jaw osteotomy may contribute to nutritional deficiencies in the first postoperative month.
• This nutritional deficiency can lead to undesirable weight and fat loss, potentially compromising wound healing and overall recovery.
• Further research is warranted to explore nutritional support strategies for these patients.