Orthognathic surgery satisfaction following FAB treatment

The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate long-term patient satisfaction after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery planned according to the Face-Airway-Bite (FAB) philosophy. A sample of 65 patients out of 80 consecutively treated between 2015 and 2017 met the inclusion criteria for the study. All patients suffered from different type of malocclusions and were treated with bimaxillary orthognathic surgery at the Unit of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Verona. Each patient completed a 15-item ad hoc questionnaire investigating the reasons for undergoing treatment and evaluating presurgical and long-term postsurgical satisfaction with facial appearance, breathing, and chewing. Epworth sleepiness scale was administered before and after treatment. In the study group, 48% of patients underwent surgery to correct malocclusion, 22% to enhance facial appearance, 18% to resolve temporomandibular joint pain, and 12% for other reasons. Patients presenting for solely OSAS were excluded from the study to prevent skewing of the data. The mean score for long-term satisfaction was 9.06 ± 1.03/10. The mean facial appearance score was 5.26/10 before and 8.85/10 after surgery, respectively. The mean chewing score was 5.30/10 before and 8.81/10 after surgery. Although none of patients reported breathing problems before surgery, 65% of them referred postoperative breathing improvement. The mean follow-up period for questionnaire administration was 32months. Patients undergoing bimaxillary orthognathic surgery planned according to the FAB principles reported high satisfaction with treatment outcomes. Patients' outcome approval was primarily related to improvement in function and aesthetics; however, airway and pain complaints were additionally improved.