Soft Tissue Changes Following Combined Anterior Segmental Bimaxillary Orthognathic Procedures

To analyze the soft tissue response in patients treated by combined anterior segmental bimaxillary procedures.

A  Prospective, observational and analytical study was carried out for a period of 2 years involving 37 patients with predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria; lateral cephalograms were taken by the same operator on the standardized unit immediately before and 6 months after surgery; hard and soft tissue landmarks were measured in millimeters to both horizontal and vertical reference lines; any differences in distances were recorded as a surgical change; appropriate statistical test was carried; level of significance was p < 0.05.

All patients underwent anterior maxillary osteotomy with 34 anterior mandibular osteotomies, 2 advancement genioplasties and 1 reduction genioplasty. Analysis showed significant angular, horizontal and vertical change. The significant differences in skeletal variables were observed in N-Pg distance, overjet, overbite, U1-NF angle, L1-Mp angle and soft tissue variables like labiomental angle, upper-lower lip protrusion, upper-lower lip length and lower incisor to labrale inferius distance. Nasolabial angle, interlabial gap and upper incisor exposure were extremely significant.

Soft tissue response to surgery is perhaps more predictable after 6 months, so this may be a treatment modality of choice in adult bimaxillary/dentoalveolar protrusion patients who need instant esthetic facial results.