Treatment of jaw deformity in Marfan's syndrome: report of a case

Marfan's syndrome is a hereditary disorder that principally affects connective tissue. Patients with this syndrome have various abnormalities of the face and jaws, such as malformation of the hard palate or teeth, malalignment of the teeth, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and cleft palate. However, patients with Marfan's syndrome usually do not undergo surgical orthodontic treatment because of risks associated with cardiovascular and thoracic abnormalities. We describe our experience in the surgical orthodontic correction of maxillary protrusion and mandibular retraction in a patient with Marfan's syndrome. To avoid relapse caused by connective tissue abnormalities, intermaxillary fixation was performed by rigidly immobilizing the bones with miniplates and bonesetting screws. No complications were encountered. As of 6 years after surgery, the patient's jaw movement is virtually normal with no evidence of relapse.