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Introduction: Mandibular osteotomies aim to displace the dental arch to the necessary position, ideally without limitation, while preserving inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) function. Supraforaminal osteotomies offer nerve safety but limit the extent of advancement, whereas Epker and Obwegeser-Dal Pont osteotomies enable unchallenged mandibular advancement but are associated with an inferior border notch. Here, we describe a new technique to avoid such disadvantages., Technical Note: The beginning of the procedure was similar to Epker's technique, with sectioning of the lingual cortex up to the level of the lingula. Sectioning of the buccal cortex was stopped 3 to 4 mm above the inferior border and then performed horizontally up to the gonial angle in total thickness. The inferior border periosteum and muscles attachments were conserved and hence, appropriately vascularized., Discussion: This technique offers 4 advantages: absence of the inferior border notch, lower risk of damage to the IAN than with Epker's technique, sufficiently large bony surface to obtain bone healing as in Epker's technique, and no limitation to setback movement in contrast to Obwegeser-Dal Pont's or the supraforaminal osteotomy techniques.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the protection of the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle in alveolar bone operation in conditions such as chronic osteomyelitis and cementoma., Patients and Methods: The study enrolled 7 cases, 4 with chronic osteomyelitis and 3 with cementoma with pain. Computed tomography scan and 3-dimensional reconstruction were performed for the diseases. Data were processed by ProPlan CMF 1.3 software. The edge of lesion was defined and the inferior alveolar nerve was marked. Template was designed to guide the osteotomy line. Piezosurgery was used for osteotomy, with the avoidance of nerve canal. Current perception threshold (CPT) was performed to evaluate the nerve function after operation., Results: The CPT difference of the affected side before and after operation showed no statistically significant differences compared with that of the unaffected side (P = 0.0556)., Conclusions: Digital template protects the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle with the aid of piezosurgery during alveolar bone resection, which obtained satisfying clinical results. As powerful assistive tools of functional surgery, digital template and piezosurgery achieve both the purposes of treatment and function.

This study was aimed to investigate a modified buccal osteotomy technique and whether the integrity of the lingual part of the lower border influences the attachment of the neurovascular bundle to the proximal segment of the mandible during a sagittal split osteotomy without increasing the number of bad splits. The presence of self-reported sensibility disturbance in the lower lip at the last follow-up visit was assessed. This study included 220 and 133 patients with bilateral sagittal split osteotomy undergoing the classical and the new modified buccal osteotomy techniques, respectively. In the new technique, the lower border is divided into a lingual fragment that remains incorporated in the tooth-bearing fragment and a buccal fragment that comes with the proximal fragment (buccal plate). In the classical technique, the inferior alveolar nerve was attached to the proximal segment of the mandible in more than one third of operation sites (36.36% on the right and 40.91% on the left) compared with less than one fourth of the operation sites using the new technique (9.73% on the right and 23.01% on the left). The overall figure of self-reported changed sensibility was 09.40% (12/128) in the new technique compared to 15.12% in the classical technique. We present a suitable improvement to the classical buccal osteotomy technique that allows less manipulation and injury of the inferior alveolar nerve with consequent reduction in self-reported postoperative changes in lower lip sensation

Some anatomic patterns formed by the anterior border of the ascending ramus relative to the mandibular canal can cause nerve complications during surgery. We determined the frequency of obstructive anatomy in patients undergoing jaw surgery, and we described a perioperative method for a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy that ensured inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) protection. The anatomy of the anterior border of the ascending ramus of the mandible was examined on axial and cross-sectional cone beam computed tomographic images of 114 consecutive patients undergoing bilateral sagittal split osteotomies. The thickness of the anterior border of the ascending ramus determined whether the mandibular foramen could be visualized (pattern A) or was obscured (pattern B). Patients with pattern B anatomy received a perioperative procedure. Direct visualization of the mandibular foramen was achieved in 100% of patients with pattern A anatomy. We examined 228 anterior borders of the ascending ramus of the mandible relative to the mandibular foramen in 114 patients. Pattern A was observed in 146 cases (64%); pattern B, in 82 (36%) cases. The use of the nerve hook resulted in no injuries to the IAN in all cases. The described procedure ensured direct visualization of the IAN, which prevented inadvertent damage to the IAN during instrumentation and surgical procedures at the mandibular foramen.