Accuracy and influencing factors of maxillary and mandibular repositioning using pre-bent locking plates: a...

In-house repositioning methods based on three-dimensional (3D)-printing technology and the use of pre-bent plates has been gaining popularity in orthognathic surgery. However, there remains room for further improvement in methods and investigations on clinical factors that affect accuracy. This single-centre, prospective study included 34 patients and aimed to evaluate the accuracy and factors influencing maxillary and mandibular repositioning using pre-bent locking plates. The plates were manually pre-bent on the 3D-printed models of the planned position, and their hole positions were scanned and reproduced intraoperatively with osteotomy guides. The accuracy of repositioning and plate-hole positioning was calculated in three axes with the set landmarks. The following clinical factors that affect repositioning accuracy were also verified: deviation of the plate-hole positioning, amount of planned movement, and amount of simulated bony interference. The median deviations of the repositioning and hole positioning between the preoperative plan and postoperative results were 0.26 mm and 0.23 mm, respectively, in the maxilla, and 0.69 mm and 0.36 mm, respectively, in the mandible, suggesting that the method was highly accurate, and the repositioning concept based on the plate hole and form matching was more effective in the maxilla. Results of the correlation test suggest that large amounts of bony interference and plate-hole positioning errors in the up/down direction could reduce mandibular repositioning accuracy.