Obwegeser II osteotomy (transoral angle osteotomy) for open bite with skeletal class III deformity.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated postoperative stability after Obwegeser II osteotomy (transoral angle osteotomy, first reported by Obwegeser 1973) for severe open bite with mandibular prognathism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed 20 consecutive patients who underwent only mandibular Obwegeser II osteotomy to correct open bite and mandibular prognathism. Lateral cephalograms were evaluated preoperatively (T1), immediate postoperatively (T2) and at least 6 months after the surgery (T3). Surgical and postsurgical changes in cephalometric measurements were evaluated statistically.

RESULTS: Open bite with skeletal class III malocclusion was corrected by the Obwegeser II osteotomy alone. After an average of 9.9 ± 5.2 mm of mandibular setback with open bite closure (T2-T1, over-bite change, 5.7 ± 2.4 mm) by counter-clockwise rotation of the mandible, the patients showed 0.8 ± 1.7 mm of horizontal relapse (p > 0.05), 1.1 ± 1.7 mm of vertical relapse at the B point (p = 0.011) and -0.2 ± 1.6 mm of over-bite change postoperatively (T3-T2).

DISCUSSION: With the adequate control of the condylar position with rigid internal fixation, Obwegeser II osteotomy showed acceptable stability after the correction of open bite with mandibular prognathism without a simultaneous maxillary osteotomy. An isolated Obwegeser II osteotomy can be considered a reliable option in cases with moderate to severe open bite with mandibular prognathism when the maxillary osteotomy is not needed if the patients have a well-positioned maxilla.