Simultaneous Surgical Correction of Skeletal Class III Dentofacial Deformity During Acute Management of Facial Fractures: Patient Selection and Surgical Technique.

BACKGROUND

Mandibular prognathism is a common dentofacial deformity in Asia. Treatment of such condition may vary from orthodontic camouflage to surgical orthodontics with orthognathic surgery depending on the severity of the condition. Because of the prominent position of the mandible, fractures involving different locations of the mandible commonly occur in maxillofacial trauma. Anatomical reduction of maxillofacial fractures and restoration of the pretraumatic occlusion are the primary goals of acute management of facial fractures. In patients with dentofacial deformity, simultaneous surgical correction of their malocclusion and improvement of their facial aesthetics while providing open treatment to the maxillofacial fractures are rarely reported in the literature.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reported 3 cases with combined open reduction and internal fixation and surgery-first orthognathic surgery principles to correct class III malocclusion with mandibular prognathism during acute management of maxillofacial fractures. Computer-assisted surgical simulation was used in surgical planning and fabrication of surgical splint.

RESULTS

Two patients underwent mandibular osteotomies in addition to open reduction and internal fixation of maxillofacial fractures. One patient had both maxillary and mandibular osteotomies during facial fracture repair. Class I occlusion with satisfactory facial profile was achieved in all 3 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Careful patient selection with presurgical planning using computer-assisted surgical simulation is essential in achieving successful outcomes in correcting dentofacial deformities while managing maxillofacial fractures. This combined technique is a viable option in the surgical management of facial fractures in patients with dentofacial deformities.