Intermaxillary fixation as co-adjuvant treatment for morbid obesity

Background: The effective long-term treatments for morbid obesity is bariatric surgery. However, the associated surgical and anesthetic risks led the authors to evaluate intermaxillary fixation, a less aggressive procedure, as a preoperative treatment in selected patients with morid obesity. Methods: 22 patients (5 male, 17 female, ages 16-53 years, with BMI 44.9′5.4 kg/m 2 ) underwent intermaxillary fixation. The procedure consisted of fitting brackets on the front face of the teeth and posterior application of elastic bands to impede mouth opening. Results: At the end of 6 weeks, weight loss was 7.4′2.6%. There was general improvement in lipid profile, glycemia, and blood pressure. There was no recorded discomfort, pain, or any other difficulty during this treatment. Conclusion: Intermaxillary fixation can be used as a pre-surgical solution for weight reduction in preparation for bariatric surgery, improving co-morbid aspects such as blood pressure, glycemia, and lipid profile.