A new screw fixation technique via an intraoral approach and its stability in sagittal splitting ramus osteotomy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability of screw fixation via an intraoral approach after sagittal splitting ramus osteotomy (SSRO). The screw was made of titanium and 2.0 mm in diameter. We examined stability in 5 patients with mandibular prognathism who underwent SSRO via an intraoral approach (S subjects).As controls, 5 patients underwent conventional fixation with poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) screws 2.7mm in diameter (P subjects), and 10 underwent conventional fixation with titanium screws 2.7mm in diameter (L subjects). The changes at point B, the pogonion, and menton 6 months after surgery were measured on lateral cephalograms. The results were as follows:1) Stability did not significantly differ between S and P subjects or S and L subjects.Our results indicate no difference in stability between screw fixation via an intraoral approach after SSRO and conventional methods.