Comparative study on long-term stability in mandibular sagittal split ramus osteotomy: hydroxyapatite/poly-L-lactide mesh versus titanium miniplate

Background: Resorbable devices have recently been adopted in the field of orthognathic surgery with controversies about their postoperative skeletal stability. Hence, we determined the long-term skeletal stability of unsintered hydroxyapatite/poly-L-lactic acid (HA/PLLA) mesh for osteofixation of mandibular sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO), and compared it with that of titanium miniplate. Methods: Patients were divided into resorbable mesh and titanium miniplate fixation groups. A comparative study of the change in the mandibular position was performed with preoperative, 1-day, 6-month, and 2-year postoperative lateral cephalograms. Results: At postoperative 6 months-compared with postoperative 1 day, point B (supra-mentale) was significantly displaced anteriorly in the titanium-fixation group. Moreover, at postoperative 2 years-compared with postoperative 6 months, point B was significantly displaced inferiorly in the titanium-fixation. However, the HA/PLLA mesh-fixation group did not show any significant change with respect to point B postoperatively. Conclusions: The HA/PLLA mesh-fixation group demonstrated superior long-term skeletal stability with respect to the position of mandible, when compared with the titanium-fixation group.