Skeletal stability after mandibular setback surgery: bicortical fixation using a 2.0-mm locking plate system versus monocortical fixation using a nonlocking plate system.

PURPOSE This study was conducted to compare the time-course changes in condylar long-axis and skeletal stability after sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) with bicortical plate fixation versus monocortical plate fixation. PATIENTS AND METHODS Of a group of 40 Japanese patients diagnosed with mandibular prognathism, 20 underwent SSRO with bicortical plate fixation using a locking plate system and the other 20 underwent SSRO with monocortical plate fixation using a conventional plate system. The time-course changes in condylar long-axis and skeletal stability were assessed through axial, frontal, and lateral cephalograms. RESULTS Significant differences were found between the 2 groups in changes of the left condylar angle between the initial and 1-month measurements (P = .0454) and in ANB between the 1- and 3-month measurements (P = .0206); however, no significant differences were found between the 2 groups in the other measurements in each time interval. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest no significant differences in postoperative time-course changes between bicortical plate fixation using a locking plate system and monocortical plate fixation using a conventional plate system.