Stability of transient, semirigid pin fixation of sagittal split mandibular osteotomies.

Cephalometric records of 16 patients who underwent mandibular lengthening, stabilized with noncompressive pin fixation, were examined retrospectively. Digitization and computer analyses of the cephalometric changes for various time intervals were performed. All linear changes were stable for 13 of the 16 patients over the follow-up period of 2 years. No significant correlation was found between postoperative horizontal relapse and amount of advancement. A high degree of postfixation stability was obtained with very short fixation periods. While further study of this pin fixation technique is indicated, these preliminary results are favorable.