Mandibular, sagittal split osteotomies fixed with biodegradable or titanium screws: A prospective, comparative study of postoperative stability

Objective. Comparison of skeletal stability following bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) advancement of the mandible fixed with titanium or biodegradable bicortical screws. Study design. Forty consecutive patients underwent mandibular advancement by means of BSSO performed with a standardized ltechnique. In 20 patients rigid fixation was achieved by means of titanium bicortical screws, the other 20 patients were fixed with biodegradable copolymer screws made of poly-L-lactic acid (82%) and polyglycolic acid (18%). Lateral cephalograms were obtained 1 week preoperatively, 1 week postoperatively and after a minimum of 6 months postoperatively. Relevant skeletal points were traced and digitized to evaluate 2-dimensional skeletal change. Changes at each time point were analyzed and compared statistically. Results. There was no statistically significant difference in long-term stability between the 2 groups. No clinical or radiographic evidence of wound healing problems were noted. Conclusion. Resorbable poly-L-lactic/polyglycolic acid copolymer bicortical screw fixation of a BSSO) is a viable alternative to titanium screws for the fixation of advancement BSSO.