A quantitative histologic study of tissue responses to ramal sagittal splitting procedures.

The viability of bone after sagittal splitting of the mandibular ramus by two techniques was studied. Decalcified sections of bone were studied with light microscopy; ground sections of bone labeled with tetracycline were studied with ultraviolet microscopy. The data indicate that avascular necrosis of the proximal fragment occurs after conventional Obwegeser-Dal Pont sagittal split osteotomy. Viability of the fragment was maintained by using a musculoperiosteal pedicle on the proximal fragment.