Use of the Sonopet ultrasonic curettage device in intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy.

This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of the Sonopet UST-2001 (Miwatec Co., Ltd., Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan) ultrasonic curettage device, and to assess the outcome after intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO). Thirteen Japanese adults (age range 20-41 years, mean age 29.6 years) presented with jaw deformities diagnosed as mandibular prognathism and asymmetry; they all underwent IVRO of the mandible. This procedure was followed by ultrasonic bone curettage using the Sonopet to make a guiding notch or groove in the lateral cortex of the ramus without damaging the vessels and nerves. After surgery, the osteotomy line was evaluated by three-dimensional computed tomography. In all patients, osteotomy with the Sonopet device was achieved safely, with minimal bleeding and no major complications. The distal segment could be moved into its ideal position and all patients achieved their ideal profiles. Ultrasonic bone curettage is a safe method for making a guiding groove, without damage to surrounding tissue, prior to complete IVRO.