Long-term Effects of Hypertelorism Correction via Facial Bipartition and Box Osteotomy on Occlusion Stability

There are few studies on the long-term effects of hypertelorism correction on occlusion status. The objective of this study is to identify and assess long-term changes in occlusion status following hypertelorism correction.

An observational retrospective study was performed on consecutive patients who underwent hypertelorism correction via facial bipartition or box osteotomy between 2008 and 2019. Patients with Apert, Crouzon, or Pfeiffer syndromes, and patients who failed to complete at least 5 years of follow-up, were excluded from this study. Twenty-two patients who underwent hypertelorism correction between 2008 and 2019 with a minimum follow-up of 5 years were included. Occlusal analysis was performed using the Angle classification system, and variables such as age at operation, diagnosis, technique used, occlusion status, complications, and need for additional surgery were assessed.

Preoperatively, 8 patients were classified as class III, and 14 as class I. Postoperatively, 2 (9.1%) patients showed deterioration from class I to III, whereas 20 patients remained stable (overall stability was 90.9%). Among the 8 class III patients, 7 remained unchanged until orthognathic procedures were performed, and 1 improved with orthodontia. The occlusion status did not change between the midterm (1-5 y) and long-term (>5 y) postoperative periods.

Hypertelorism correction via facial bipartition and box osteotomy does not adversely affect dental occlusion and can even result in improved long-term outcomes. These findings underscore that hypertelorism correction via these 2 techniques, depending on patient age, can be effectively used without compromising postoperative occlusal stability.