Comparison of three-dimensional soft tissue changes according to the split pattern after sagittal split osteotomy in patients with skeletal class III malocclusion.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyse the changes in soft tissue and hard tissue stability associated with the split pattern, i.e. long split (LS) or short split (SS), after sagittal split osteotomy.

Materials And Methods: Patients who underwent sagittal split ramus osteotomy were classified into LS or SS groups according to postoperative computed tomography images. They were examined via lateral cephalography and three-dimensional (3D) optical scanning before surgery (T0) and 1 (T1), 3 (T2), and 12 (T3) months after surgery. Six standard angles (SNA, SNB, ANB, FMA, FMIA, and IMPA) were used as measures of hard tissue change. The two sets of 3D data were superimposed, and the volumetric differences were calculated as the soft tissue change. The areas evaluated were delimited by 10 × 20-mm rectangles in the frontal aspect and a 25 × 25-mm square in the lateral aspect.

Results: A total of 42 sides (26 patients) were analysed, including 20 (16 patients) in the SS group and 22 (16 patients) in the LS group. We found no significant differences in cephalographic angle or soft tissue changes in the frontal aspect between the SS and LS groups. We found significant differences in the subauricular region from T0-T1 (p = 0.02), T0-T2 (p = 0.03), and T0-T3 (p = 0.037) in terms of soft tissue changes in the lateral aspect. The volume increase associated with posterior mandibular movement was greater in the LS group.

Conclusions: We found that LS patients with mandibular prognathism exhibited increased subauricular volumes following mandibular setback.

Clinical Relevance: It is essential to predict the postoperative facial profile before surgery. The split pattern after sagittal split osteotomy affects the postoperative profile of patients with mandibular prognathism.