Do Computed Tomography Findings Affect Operating Time in Bi-Lateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy? A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Radiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) is a common surgical procedure.
• Understanding factors influencing operating time is crucial for surgical planning and efficiency.
• Patient demographics and bone characteristics may impact surgical duration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between patient demographics and bone density with operating time in BSSO.
• To identify predictors of prolonged surgical duration in BSSO procedures.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 46 patients undergoing BSSO between 2016 and 2023.
• Preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans were used to measure CT attenuation values of mandibular ramus bone.
• Patient demographics including age, sex, occlusal class, and body weight were collected.

Main Results:

• Patient weight and mandibular ramus CT attenuation (cortical and cancellous bone) showed a correlation with operating time.
• Males exhibited significantly longer operating times compared to females.
• Higher CT attenuation, indicating increased bone density, was independently associated with longer operating times.

Conclusions:

• CT attenuation of the mandibular ramus may be a potential predictor of operating time in BSSO.
• Increased bone density could lead to greater resistance during osteotomy, thus prolonging the procedure.
• These preliminary findings necessitate larger cohort studies to validate the association between bone density and BSSO operating time.