Changes in masseter muscle morphology after surgical-orthodontic treatment in patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion with mandibular asymmetry: The automatic masseter muscle segmentation model.

Introduction: This study evaluated the masseter muscle changes after surgical-orthodontic treatment in patients with a skeletal Class III malocclusion using automatic segmentation.

Methods: Images of 120 patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion were obtained and reconstructed at T0 (pretreatment), T1 (presurgery), and T2 (6-12-month postsurgery). The patients were divided into symmetrical and asymmetrical groups. The volume, major axis length, maximum cross-sectional area, horizontal cross-sectional area 5 mm above the mandibular foramen (CSAF), and orientation were calculated automatically.

Results: In the asymmetrical group, the volume and major axis length on the deviated side were lower than on the nondeviated side at T0, T1, and T2 (P <0.05). There were no significant differences in maximum cross-sectional area and CSAF bilaterally. The orientation was coronally more vertical and sagittally more forward on the deviated side (both P <0.001). In the symmetrical group, there were no significant bilateral differences at T0, T1, and T2. The volume, major axis length, and CSAF decreased, and the coronal orientation was more vertical on the nondeviated side at T2 than at T0 in both groups (P <0.05). The coronal plane orientation was more inclined on the deviated side at T2 than at T0 in the asymmetrical group (P <0.05).

Conclusions: The smaller volume on the deviated side at T2 indicates the need for myofunctional training after surgery. The masseter muscle volume and the cross-sectional area did not recover to the preorthodontic levels. Studies with longer follow-up durations are needed to confirm these findings.