Tridimensional evaluation of maxillary and mandibular movements in orthognathic surgery.

For better evaluation of long-term results of orthognathic surgery, movements of osteotomized maxillary and mandibular segments should be documented both in x-, y-, and z-axes and in terms of kind of movement (either linear or rotational movements). Lateral cephalometric, anteroposterior cephalometric, and submentovertex radiographs of 14 patients, treated with combined orthodontic and surgical treatment for skeletal class III malocclusion, were reevaluated retrospectively to demonstrate the applicability and usefulness of defined parameters in four maxillary and five mandibular movements. There was no clinically significant relapse in the follow-up period of 6 months in any of the patients. Differences between preoperative and postoperative measurements to demonstrate the linear movement in the z-axis, rotational movements in the x-axis and y-axis of the maxilla, and the linear movement in the z-axis of the mandibula were found to be statistically significant. Differences between early postoperative and late postoperative measurements to demonstrate rotational movement in the y-axis of the maxilla and rotational movement in the y-axis of the mandibula were found to be statistically significant. In this article, the possible tridimensional movements and cephalometric measurements of osteotomized bony segments after LeFort I and sagittal split osteotomy surgery were defined for better evaluation and follow up of the postoperative results.