Accuracy of 3D virtual surgical planning for maxillary positioning and orientation in orthognathic surgery

This retrospective and observational study evaluated the accuracy of a 3D virtual surgical planning (VSP) for the maxillary positioning and orientation in patients undergoing bimaxillary orthognathic surgery, comparing the planned and postoperative outcomes.

Seventy consecutive patients of both sexes, who were submitted to bimaxillary orthognathic surgery between 2015 and 2019 were included in our study.

The patients were evaluated by fusing preoperative planning and postoperative outcome using cone-beam computed tomography scan evaluation. Three-dimensional VSP and postoperative outcomes were compared by using three linear and three angular measurements. The main outcome interest was the difference between the VSP movement, and the surgical movement obtained. The success criterion adopted was a mean linear difference of <2 mm and a mean angular difference of <4°.

Results were analysed using a linear mixed model with fixed and random effects, at α = .05. No significant statistical differences were found for linear and angular measurements between the planned and postsurgical outcomes (P > .05). All overlapping points presented values within the range considered clinically irrelevant (<2 mm; <1°).

Three-dimensional VSP was executed with a high degree of accuracy. When comparing the planned and postsurgical outcomes, all overlapping points presented values within the range considered clinically irrelevant.