An easily and immediately releasable intermaxillary fixation appliance for use after the correction of surgical orthognathic cases of jaw deformity or fracture

: In oral surgery, intermaxillary fixation is routinely applied after surgery in cases of surgical orthognathic correction of jaw deformity or fractures. Intermaxillary fixation requires two conflicting factors: Stiff fixation and quick release in an emergency, as in nausea and vomiting. Conventional methods of intermaxillary fixation require multiple stiff ligation after an operation, but in an emergency these ligations can not be cut quickly to free the airway. We have developed a new fixation method placing a third wire (locking bow) above the upper splint or below the lower splint. The locking bow is hooked onto the splint on the unoperated side and firmly ligated to the splint on the jaw being operated upon. The ligatures can be quickly and easily released by pulling out the locking bow. This can be done by the patient himself or another person. This article describes the principles and clinical application of the method. We have found it to be useful in clinical practice.