Predictability of Mandibular Autorotation After Le Fort I Maxillary Impaction in Case of Vertical Maxillary Excess.

A retrospective study of 20 patients treated for vertical maxillary excess between 2009 and 2010, solely by superior surgical repositioning of the maxilla. Clinical and radiological cephalometric parameters were analyzed statistically and their impact on achieving the predicted postoperative mandibular autorotation and on relapse. According to our study, patients presenting with an anterior open bite and a low occlusal plane angle might fail to achieve the predicted mandibular autorotation and are prone to postoperative relapse. No correlation was found between the extent of maxillary impaction and the presence of autorotation.

Complete Reoperation in Orthognathic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Complete reoperation is defined as undergoing reoperative/repeated jaw osteotomies, in a patient who previously underwent orthognathic surgery. The purpose of this study is to (1) describe jaw positions at three time-points (before primary and before and after reoperative surgery), (2) investigate factors necessitating reoperation, and (3) outline the technical challenges. METHODS: Repeated orthognathic surgery cases >1-year out were included. Demographic, radiologic, and perioperative data were compiled. Repeated osteotomies (Le-Fort and/or bilateral split sagittal osteotomy, with or without genioplasty), were compared to their respective primary procedures. Statistical analysis was performed using t tests and z-scores. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were included (28.1 years; 71 percent female). Reoperative/repeated surgery was most often needed to address iatrogenic bony malposition and asymmetry. Relapse was a less common indication. Time between reoperative and primary surgery was 14 months. Sagittal discrepancies (p = 0.029) were the most frequent reason for primary orthognathic surgery (e.g., mandibular hypoplasia (p = 0.023). Reoperative/repeated orthognathic was performed for asymmetry (p = 0.014). Repeated procedures used more 3-dimensional planning (p < 0.001), required all three osteotomies (p = 0.034), had longer operative times (p = 0.078), and all required hardware removal (p < 0.001). Anatomical outcomes were good with 100% patient satisfaction at long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Reoperative/repeated orthognathic surgery is challenging and underreported in the literature. Whereas primary orthognathic typically addressed sagittal discrepancies, reoperative/repeated osteotomies were needed to correct iatrogenic bone malposition and asymmetries. Challenges include: re-planning, scar burden, need to remove integrated hardware, and repeated osteotomy/fixation. Despite these difficulties, outcomes and patient acceptance were good. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Three-Dimensional Nasal Alterations in Le Fort I Advancement: Linear Measurements, Angles, Nasal Indices, and Volume Differences.

The maxillary advancement obtained by the Le Fort I osteotomy can also generate significant changes in the soft tissue of the nose and lips. The aim of this study was to compare the alterations in the soft tissue of the nose following the Le Fort I osteotomy maxillary advancement technique in a population of young adults submitted to orthognathic surgery. Seven men and 8 women aged between 23 and 45 underwent orthognathic surgery using the Le Fort I osteotomy and bilateral mandibular sagittal osteotomy. Sixty 3-dimensional images were analyzed (Vectra M3, Canfield, NJ) after labeling landmarks on the face and determining linear and angular measurements, proportion, and volume difference indices at the following intervals: preoperatively (baseline), then 2 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. Following Le Fort I, there was an increase in the alar base, and reduction of nasal tip protrusion, nasal angles, and the nasal tip protrusion index (P < 0.05). There were no differences in the facial thirds, the nasal index, and angles of nasal and mentolabial convexity (P > 0.05). There was a difference in the volume of the nose only 2 months after surgery. The Le Fort I osteotomy caused significant alterations in linear, angular, and nasal proportion measurements. The volume differences were reversible in the early postoperative period and probably associated with edema. The possibility of variations in the size and shape of the nose should be presented to prospective patients preoperatively.

Perioperative outcomes and management in midface advancement surgery: a multicenter observational descriptive study from the Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The evolution of Le Fort III and Monobloc procedures with utilization of distraction devices has resulted in shortened surgical times, greater facial advancements, and decreased transfusion requirements. The aim of this observational study was to utilize data from the multicenter Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery Perioperative Registry to present and compare patient characteristics and outcomes in children undergoing midface advancement with distraction osteogenesis. METHODS: We queried the Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery Perioperative Registry for children undergoing midface advancement involving distractor application from June 2012 to September 2016. Data extracted included demographics, perioperative management, complications, fluid and transfusion volumes, and length of stay. The extracted patient characteristics and perioperative variables were summarized and compared. RESULTS: The query yielded 72 cases from 11 institutions: 49 children undergoing Le Fort III and 23 undergoing Monobloc procedures. Monobloc patients were younger, weighed less, and more likely to have tracheostomies along with elevated intracranial pressure. Greater transfusion was observed in the Monobloc group for nearly all of the transfusion outcomes evaluated. Median ICU and hospital length of stay were 2 and 3 days longer, respectively, in the Monobloc group. Perioperative complications were not uncommon, occurring in 18% of patients in the Le Fort III group and 30% in the Monobloc group. CONCLUSION: Monobloc procedures were associated with greater transfusion and longer ICU and hospital length of stay. Perioperative complications were more prevalent in the Monobloc group.

Critical Analysis of Piezoelectric Surgery with Oscillating Saw in Bimaxillary Orthognathic Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the piezosurgery with conventional saw for osteotomy in orthognathic bimaxillary surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January 2012 to July 2015. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-four patients, regardless of gender, were selected for bimaxillary surgery. Each underwent osteotomy with conventional saw and piezosurgery equipment. Intraoperative and postoperative parameters, like blood loss during operation, time required for surgery, postoperative swelling, nerve function, incision and surgical precisons, were evaluated. RESULTS: Out of total 96 osteotomies, 48 (50%) maxillary and 48 (50%) mandibular osteotomies were performed. Time required for piezosurgery was more (63 minutes) as compared to saw (p=0.003). Other parameters, like intraoperative blood loss (p=0.091), postoperative swelling (p=0.041), and nerve damage (p=0.009), were far less frequent with piezosurgery than frequent with saw procedures. CONCLUSION: Piezosurgery is a favourable alternative technique as compared to saw technique in bimaxillary orthognathic surgeries.

Incidence of Le Fort Surgery in a Mature Cohort of Patients With Cleft Lip and Palate.

Primary repair of cleft lip and palate occurs early in life, but ideal timing of these interventions remains controversial. Prior research has indicated that a later palate repair may improve patients' midfacial growth long term, whereas optimal timing of lip repair to maximize midfacial growth has not been identified.The purpose of this study is to analyze a large, diverse cohort of patients with cleft lip and palate to determine whether timing of primary palate repair and primary lip repair contributed significantly to subsequent orthognathic surgery. METHODS: Seventy-one nonsyndromic patients with cleft lip and/or palate were followed until age 23 years, and data regarding original diagnosis, surgical procedures, and dates were collected. Within our patient cohort, 12 patients (16.9%) underwent orthognathic surgery. Binary logistic regressions, Fisher exact tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to determine whether timing of primary palate repair and primary lip repair contributed significantly to subsequent orthognathic surgery. RESULTS: In our cohort, the association of early lip repair with later orthognathic surgery trended toward significance (P = 0.080). Timing of primary palate repair was not significantly associated with later orthognathic surgery (P= 0.291). When correcting for sex, race, diagnosis, location of care, incidence of lip adhesions, and incidence of lip revisions, patient age at primary lip procedure was a significant predictor of later orthognathic surgery (P = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Inconsistent with prior research, age at primary palate repair in our cohort was not correlated with incidence of orthognathic surgery. Delayed primary lip repair was associated with a significant decrease in the rate of subsequent orthognathic surgery.

Osseous genioplasty in conjunction with bimaxillary orthognathic surgery: a review of 262 consecutive cases.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of osseous genioplasty with bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. A retrospective consecutive case series of patients treated by a single surgeon between 2004 and 2013 was studied. All underwent Le Fort I, sagittal ramus osteotomies, septoplasty, inferior turbinate reduction, and osseous genioplasty. The outcome variables included the presenting chin dysmorphology, complications, and assessment of morphologic change. A Steiner analysis was completed for each subject's interval cephalogram. Two hundred sixty-two subjects met the inclusion criteria. Their mean age at operation was 25 (range 13-63) years. Chin osteotomy complications included one wound infection (0.4%), and two of the 1572 mandibular anterior teeth at risk sustained a pulpal injury. None of the subjects required revision. For subjects undergoing chin advancement, the mean change was +3.5 (range +3 to +6) mm. A majority also underwent counterclockwise rotation of the mandible (62%). For those undergoing chin lengthening, the mean change was +5 (range +3 to +12mm) mm, and for those undergoing vertical shortening, the mean change was -3.5 (range -3 to -7) mm. Osseous genioplasty is confirmed to be a safe method to reshape the chin. When osseous genioplasty is performed in conjunction with bimaxillary orthognathic surgery, only a modest horizontal change is required to achieve the preferred pogonion projection.

Is Le Fort I Osteotomy Associated With Maxillary Sinusitis?

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between Le Fort I osteotomy and the anatomic, radiologic, and symptomatic modifications of the maxillary sinus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects who had undergone Le Fort I osteotomy from January 2008 to December 2013 were enrolled in a retrospective cohort study. The eligibility criteria were the availability of a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan taken before and 12 to 24 months after the procedure. The exclusion criteria were the unavailability of CBCT scans, the use of tobacco, and previous orthognathic procedures. The primary predictor variable was time (pre-vs postoperative). The primary outcome variables were the sinus volume, mucosal thickening, iatrogenic alterations in the sinus anatomy, and rhinosinusitis symptoms, evaluated using the Sino-Nasal Outcome 20-item Test (SNOT-20). Descriptive statistics were computed for each variable, and paired analyses were used to compare the pre- and postoperative values. RESULTS: The data from 64 subjects (mean age 27; 59.4% were female; median follow-up 32.4 months, range 13 to 66 months) were studied. Postoperatively, 1.6% of the sample (0% preoperatively) had moderate-to-severe and 15.6% (3.1% preoperatively) had mild-to-moderate sinusitis symptoms. The rest of the sample presented with mild to no symptoms. The increase in the SNOT scores after surgery was statistically significant (P = .016). Radiologic evidence of postoperative inflammatory processes affecting the paranasal sinuses was found in 27.3% of the sinuses (9.4% preoperatively). The postoperative Lund-Mackay scores were significantly greater (P = .0005). A 19% decrease was found in the mean postoperative sinus volume, with a 37% incidence of iatrogenic injury. CONCLUSIONS: The study results indicate that Le Fort I osteotomies can have an important impact on sinus health. The postoperative radiologic evidence of maxillary sinus inflammatory processes and the incidence of rhinosinusitis symptoms and iatrogenic damage in these patients have led us to conclude that CBCT scans and the SNOT-20 questionnaire should be used routinely during postoperative monitoring. Larger long-term studies are warranted to clarify the postoperative outcomes and complications.

Is Three-Dimensional Soft Tissue Prediction by Software Accurate?

The authors assessed whether virtual surgery, performed with a soft tissue prediction program, could correctly simulate the actual surgical outcome, focusing on soft tissue movement. Preoperative and postoperative computed tomography (CT) data for 29 patients, who had undergone orthognathic surgery, were obtained and analyzed using the Simplant Pro software. The program made a predicted soft tissue image (A) based on presurgical CT data. After the operation, we obtained actual postoperative CT data and an actual soft tissue image (B) was generated. Finally, the 2 images (A and B) were superimposed and analyzed differences between the A and B. Results were grouped in 2 classes: absolute values and vector values. In the absolute values, the left mouth corner was the most significant error point (2.36 mm). The right mouth corner (2.28 mm), labrale inferius (2.08 mm), and the pogonion (2.03 mm) also had significant errors. In vector values, prediction of the right-left side had a left-sided tendency, the superior-inferior had a superior tendency, and the anterior-posterior showed an anterior tendency. As a result, with this program, the position of points tended to be located more left, anterior, and superior than the "real" situation. There is a need to improve the prediction accuracy for soft tissue images. Such software is particularly valuable in predicting craniofacial soft tissues landmarks, such as the pronasale. With this software, landmark positions were most inaccurate in terms of anterior-posterior predictions.

Virtual surgical planning for orthognathic surgery using digital data transfer and an intraoral fiducial marker: the charlotte method.

PURPOSE: We describe an alternative workup protocol for virtual surgical planning of orthognathic surgery using an intraoral fiducial marker, clinical photography, and the digital transfer of occlusal data. We also discuss our initial experience using this protocol in a series of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed of consecutive patients who had undergone combined maxillary and mandibular osteotomies for the correction of dentofacial deformities at 1 center. These patients underwent treatment planning using the modified virtual surgical planning protocol described in the present report. The primary outcome evaluated was the accuracy of the method, which was determined through superimposition of the surgical plan to the postoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan. The secondary outcomes included the accuracy of the natural head position readings and the adequacy of the CBCT scanned stone models for the fabrication of occlusal splints. RESULTS: The population included 25 patients. The root mean standard deviation (RMSD) from the preoperative plan to the postoperative scan at the maxillary cephalometric points was 1.2, 1.4, and 2.1 mm in the axial, sagittal, and coronal planes, respectively. The RMSD of the superimposed plan to the postoperative scan at the 3 mandibular cephalometric points was 1.2, 0.8, and 0.7 mm in the axial, sagittal, and coronal planes, respectively. The average variance from the axial, sagittal, and coronal planes for the natural head position was 0.05, 2.22, and 0.69 mm, respectively. All splints fabricated from the CBCT occlusal data fit the stone models and were used intraoperatively. In the subset of patients whose models were both digitally transferred and laser scanned, the superimposition of the laser scan data to the CBCT scanned data was found to have a maximum variation of 0.2 mm at the occlusal level. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an intraoral fiducial marker changed the workflow for the data collection needed for virtual surgical planning of the correction of dentofacial deformities, while still obtaining accurate results. Because the device does not cause lip distortion, the possibility of virtually predicting a more expectant postoperative lip position exists without the need for additional scans. Furthermore, this work flow allows the transfer of data to be isolated to digital media.

Accuracy of three-dimensional soft tissue simulation in bimaxillary osteotomies.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of an algorithm based on the mass tensor model (MTM) for computerized 3D simulation of soft-tissue changes following bimaxillary osteotomy, and to identify patient and surgery-related factors that may affect the accuracy of the simulation. Sixty patients (mean age 26.0 years) who had undergone bimaxillary osteotomy, participated in this study. Cone beam CT scans were acquired pre- and one year postoperatively. The 3D rendered pre- and postoperative scans were matched. The maxilla and mandible were segmented and aligned to the postoperative position. 3D distance maps and cephalometric analyses were used to quantify the simulation error. The mean absolute error between the 3D simulation and the actual postoperative facial profile was 0.81 ± 0.22 mm for the face as a whole. The accuracy of the simulation (average absolute error ≤2 mm) for the whole face and for the upper lip, lower lip and chin subregions were 100%, 93%, 90% and 95%, respectively. The predictability was correlated with the magnitude of the maxillary and mandibular advancement, age and V-Y closure. It was concluded that the MTM-based soft tissue simulation for bimaxillary surgery was accurate for clinical use, though patients should be informed of possible variation in the predicted lip position.

[Le Fort I osteotomies combined with post-operative bone grafts]. / Greffes osseuses réalisées à partir des résidus peropératoires lors des ostéotomies de Le Fort I.

INTRODUCTION: We present and assess a surgical technique for maxillary auto-bone grafting concomitantly with Le Fort I osteotomy. The graft has 2 main objectives: to fill in the space between the 2 advanced segments of the maxilla to help bone consolidation, and to increase the volume of the malar, para-nasal spaces to improve post-operative esthetic results. TECHNICAL NOTE: Bone fragments, removed during the Le Fort I osteotomy, are stored and wrapped in a Surgicel(®) sheet, then grafted in the space left by the osteotomy, or on the anterior maxilla in the para-nasal area or on the malar bone. One hundred and twenty-three patient records, operated from 2007 to 2012, were collected to assess the post-operative course retrospectively. The post-operative course was uneventful in 93.5% of cases. About 8.4% of patients (7 cases) presented with a persistent post-operative maxillary edema. 1 patient (1.2%) presented with a sinus infection without any determined etiology. The grafts were all osteointegrated at the end of follow-up. DISCUSSION: The technique is simple and quickly performed; it improves bone healing and cosmetic results, without increasing morbidity or surgical time. It is a good alternative to bone grafts from a secondary sample site. It can be applied to all Le Fort I osteotomies.

Impact of intraoperative fluid administration on length of postoperative hospital stay following orthognathic surgery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the volume of intraoperative fluids administered to patients during routine orthognathic surgery is associated with increased length of hospital stay for postoperative convalescence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study design was used to identify 168 patients undergoing routine orthognathic surgery at Mayo Clinic from 2010 through 2014. The primary predictor variable was total volume of intravenous fluids administered during orthognathic surgery. The primary outcome variable was the length of hospital stay in hours as measured from the completion of the procedure to patient dismissal from the hospital. Additional covariates were collected including patient demographic data, preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, type of intravenous fluid administered, complexity of surgical procedure, and duration of anesthesia. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, total fluid was significantly associated with increased length of stay (odds ratio [OR], 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42 to 2.33; P < .001). After adjustment for surgical complexity and duration of anesthesia on multivariable regression analysis, the association of fluid level with length of hospital stay was no longer statistically significant (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.61 to 1.22; P = .39). Duration of anesthesia remained the only covariate that was significantly associated with increased length of hospital stay in the multivariable regression model (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.56 to 3.13; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Among surgical complexity, duration of anesthesia, and total volume of intraoperative intravenous fluids administered for routine orthognathic surgery, the duration of anesthesia has the strongest predictive value for patients requiring prolonged hospital stay for postoperative convalescence.

Accuracy of three-dimensional soft tissue predictions in orthognathic surgery after Le Fort I advancement osteotomies.

Prediction of postoperative facial appearance after orthognathic surgery can be used for communication, managing patients' expectations,avoiding postoperative dissatisfaction and exploring different treatment options. We have assessed the accuracy of 3dMD Vultus in predicting the final 3-dimensional soft tissue facial morphology after Le Fort I advancement osteotomy. We retrospectively studied 13 patients who were treated with a Le Fort I advancement osteotomy alone. We used routine cone-beam computed tomographic (CT) images taken immediately before and a minimum of 6 months after operation, and 3dMD Vultus to virtually reposition the preoperative maxilla and mandible in their post operative positions to generate a prediction of what the soft tissue would look like. Segmented anatomical areas of the predicted mesh were then compared with the actual soft tissue. The means of the absolute distance between the 90th percentile of the mesh points for each region were calculated, and a one-sample Student's t test was used to calculate if the difference differed significantly from 3 mm.The differences in the mean absolute distances between the actual soft tissue and the prediction were significantly below 3 mm for all segmented anatomical areas (p < 0.001), and ranged from 0.65 mm (chin) to 1.17 mm (upper lip). 3dMD Vultus produces clinically satisfactory 3-dimensional facial soft tissue predictions after Le Fort I advancement osteotomy. The mass-spring model for prediction seems to be able to predict the position of the lip and chin, but its ability to predict nasal and paranasal areas could be improved.

Infections after sagittal split osteotomy: a retrospective analysis of 336 patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of infection after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The investigators implemented a retrospective case series study. To be included in this study, patients needed to have a complete medical chart and a postoperative follow-up of at least 3 months. The outcome variable was postoperative infections. The predicator variables were type of surgery, medical comorbidities, third molar extraction, smoking, type of fixation, and antibiotic prophylaxis. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed, and significance was set at P < .05. Multivariate analyses were performed with logistic regression. RESULTS: The sample was composed of 336 patients with ages ranging from 13 to 65 years (27.2 ± 10.6). The rate of infection was 11.3%, and plates, screws, or both were removed in 10 patients (3%). There was a statistically significant association between age and infections (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that infection after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy is within normal range for a clean-contaminated procedure. Rigid fixation of the osteotomy may decrease the need for hardware removal.

A more accurate soft-tissue prediction model for Class III 2-jaw surgeries.

INTRODUCTION: The use of bimaxillary surgeries to treat Class III malocclusions makes the results of the surgeries more complicated to estimate accurately. Therefore, our objective was to develop an accurate soft-tissue prediction model that can be universally applied to Class III surgical-orthodontic patients regardless of the type of surgical correction: maxillary or mandibular surgery with or without genioplasty. METHODS: The subjects of this study consisted of 204 mandibular setback patients who had undergone the combined surgical-orthodontic correction of severe skeletal Class III malocclusions. Among them, 133 patients had maxillary surgeries, and 81 patients received genioplasties. The prediction model included 226 independent and 64 dependent variables. Two prediction methods, the conventional ordinary least squares method and the partial least squares (PLS) method, were compared. When evaluating the prediction methods, the actual surgical outcome was the gold standard. After fitting the equations, test errors were calculated in absolute values and root mean square values through the leave-1-out cross-validation method. RESULTS: The validation result demonstrated that the multivariate PLS prediction model with 30 orthogonal components showed the best prediction quality among others. With the PLS method, the pattern of prediction errors between 1-jaw and 2-jaw surgeries did not show a significantly difference. CONCLUSIONS: The multivariate PLS prediction model based on about 30 latent variables might provide an improved algorithm in predicting surgical outcomes after 1-jaw and 2-jaw surgical corrections for Class III patients.

Postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding in orthognathic surgery patients: its estimated prevalence and possible association to known risk factors.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in patients after orthognathic surgery and its relation to known risk factors. PATIENT AND METHODS: With institutional review board approval, a single-center case series was conducted with data collected retrospectively from orthognathic surgical patients' medical records from 1990 to 2010. All patients were treated by 1 primary surgeon, were limited to 21 years or younger at the time of surgery, and had no coagulopathy. The authors' hypothesis was that patients concurrently exposed to mechanical ventilation and dual anti-inflammatory drugs in the postoperative period would be at a greater risk for clinically significant GI bleeding according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists guideline compared with those exposed to fewer risk factors. Its prevalence and relation to known risk factors were analyzed. RESULTS: In total 498 orthognathic cases consisting of 220 male patients (median age, 17 yr; age range, 3 to 21 yr) and 262 female patients (median age, 17 yr; age range, 10 to 21 yr) were reviewed. Of 17 patients admitted to intensive care unit level of care postoperatively, 4 patients were exposed to concomitant administration of ketorolac and steroids while being mechanically ventilated. Two of these 4 patients developed esophagogastroduodenoscopy-confirmed upper GI bleeding (UGIB). There was no incidence of UGIB in patients not exposed to all 3 risk factors concurrently. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative GI bleeding complication is rare in orthognathic surgical patients, with an estimated prevalence of 0.4%. Based on these observations, orthognathic surgical patients who require mechanical ventilation and are receiving anti-inflammatory medications may have an increased risk of GI bleeding. In the absence of active bleeding from the surgical site, persistent decrease in hemoglobin concentration should alert one to consider the possibility of UGIB.

Orthognathic surgery in the management of obstructive sleep apnoea: experience from maxillofacial surgery unit in the United Kingdom.

In the United Kingdom, maxillofacial techniques are underused in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). We retrospectively analysed the details and relevant clinical data of consecutive patients who had operations for OSA at the maxillofacial unit in Leicester between 2002 and 2012. They had been referred from the local sleep clinic after investigation and diagnosis, and in all cases treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) had failed. We compared preoperative and postoperative apnoea/hypopnoea indices (AHI), scores for the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), and lowest oxygen saturation to measure surgical success (AHI of less than 15 and a 50% reduction in the number of apnoeas or hypopnoea/hour) and surgical cure (AHI of less than 5). We identified 51 patients (mean age 44 years, range 21-60) with a mean (SD) body mass index (BMI) of 29 (3.4). Most patients had bimaxillary advancement with genioplasty (n=42). Differences in mean (SD) preoperative and postoperative values were significant for all 3 outcome measures (AHI: 42 (17) to 8 (7) p<0.001; ESS: 14 (4) to 5 (4) p<0.001; lowest oxygen saturation: 76% (11%) to 83% (7%); p=0.006). On the postoperative sleep study 85% of patients met the criteria for surgical success. Our experience has confirmed that bimaxillary advancement results in a high rate of success in patients with OSA. The operation has a role in the management of selected patients in the UK who do not adhere to CPAP.