Peripherally Induced Oromandibular Dystonia Following Orthognathic Surgery

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Neurology
• Movement Disorders

Background:

• Peripherally induced movement disorders are hyperkinetic conditions linked to trauma or surgery.
• Oromandibular dystonia (OMD) is the most common peripherally induced movement disorder in the stomatognathic system.
• OMD following orthognathic surgery is infrequently documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize OMD developing post-orthognathic surgery.
• To analyze clinical features, latency, and treatment outcomes.
• To raise awareness of this potential complication.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series of six patients at Kyoto Medical Center (2007-2025).
• Inclusion criteria: OMD onset within 3 months post-surgery, anatomical correlation, patient-reported causality.
• Analysis of clinical features, surgical history, latency, and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• Six patients (mean age 35.2 years) developed OMD post-orthognathic surgery.
• OMD subtypes included jaw closing, tongue, jaw opening, and jaw deviation.
• Mean latency to OMD onset was 39.5 days; mean delay to referral was 40.3 months.
• Botulinum toxin injections provided symptomatic improvement; initial surgical association was often missed.

Conclusions:

• OMD is a potential, albeit rare and likely underdiagnosed, sequela of orthognathic surgery.
• Oral and maxillofacial surgeons need awareness of this complication.
• Timely diagnosis and management are essential for affected patients.