Assessment of Osteoimmunological Changes Following Orthognathic Surgery

There is a scarcity in the published literature which evaluates the postoperative inflammatory response and patients' immunity following orthognathic surgery.

The present prospective study aimed to evaluate the changes in two immunological callipers to measure the traumatic effect of orthognathic surgery.

In the present prospective cohort study, we included women (age range 16-30 years) with severe dentofacial deformities who were scheduled for bimaxillary osteotomy. Blood samples were collected for measurement of transforming growth factor beta one (TGF-β1) and osteoprotegrin (OPG) levels. The statistical analysis was carried with SPSS software.

In the present study, nine patients with severe dentofacial deformity were operated successfully under general anaesthesia. All patients reported decreased energy and fatigue in the early days after surgery and had difficulties with nutrition due to pain, oedema and paresthesia; however, no massive weight loss was reported. The levels of OPG started to increase immediately postoperatively (mean = 0.46 ± 0.08; p = 0.001). A significant increase in the concentration of OPG begun postoperatively and continued to rise significantly until the six weeks to reach 2.24 ± 0.30 ng/mL (p < 0.001). Similarly, the concentration of TGF-β1 increased at three days postoperatively and continued to rise until the six weeks to reach 1.28 ± 0.19 ng/mL (p <0 .001).

In conclusion, orthognathic surgery is associated with a significant rise in the pro-inflammatory cytokines until the six weeks postoperatively. These observed results may indicate a significant alteration in the immunity of the patients to undergoing orthognathic surgery.