Evaluation of treatment modality for skeletal Class III malocclusion with labioversed upper incisors and/or protrusive maxilla: surgical movement and stability of rotational maxillary setback procedure.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the range of surgical movement and stability of rotational maxillary setback (MXS) procedure as treatment modality for skeletal class III malocclusion with labioversed upper incisors and/or protrusive maxilla (CIII/LUI-PM). The samples consisted of 20 adult patients (mean [SD] age, 23.55 [4.30] y) who had CIII/LUI-PM and were treated with rotational MXS and mandibular setback using LeFort I osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy. The lateral cephalograms were obtained 1 week before (T0), 1 week after (T1), and 1 year after surgery (T2). The amounts of surgical movement, relapse, and stability rate of the upper central incisor (UIE), upper first molar (U6MBC), point A (A), incisive canal point, and posterior nasal spine (PNS) in relation to the reference planes were statistically analyzed. During T1 - T0, there were backward and downward movements of UIE and A, backward and upward movements of U6MBC, and upward and slight forward movements of PNS due to rotational MXS. The center of rotation of the maxilla was placed between A and the upper premolar area. During T2 - T1, skeletal landmarks showed clinically insignificant counterclockwise rotational relapse (<0.5 mm). The anteroposterior (AP) and vertical positions of skeletal landmarks were more stable than dental landmarks. The U6MBC was more stable in the vertical aspect than UIE (P < 0.01). Posterior nasal spine showed significantly higher stability rate in both vertical and AP aspects (P < 0.01, respectively), whereas UIE showed a lower value in the vertical aspect (P < 0.05). Rotational MXS procedure in cases with CIII/LUI-PM can be regarded as a stable one, especially in the vertical and AP positions of PNS. Vertical relapse in UIE should be managed with postoperative orthodontic treatment.