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Piezosurgery Versus Conventional Techniques in Orthognathic Surgery
Sponsor: Erasmus Medical Center
Summary
The goal of this randomized double-blinded controlled clinical trial is to determine whether piezosurgery can reduce complications and improve outcomes compared to conventional osteotomy techniques in patients undergoing bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO), with or without concurrent Le Fort I osteotomy (bimaxillary surgery). The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does piezosurgery reduce inferior alveolar nerve impairment following BSSO compared to conventional techniques? * Does piezosurgery affect surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, rates of bad splits, postoperative infections, costs, and environmental sustainability compared to conventional techniques? Researchers will compare BSSO performed with piezosurgery versus BSSO performed with conventional oscillating saw and burr techniques to see if piezosurgery leads to better sensory outcomes, reduced morbidity, and improved cost-effectiveness and sustainability. Participants will be: * Dutch or English-speaking adults aged 18-65 scheduled for BSSO or BIMAX surgery at Erasmus Medical Centre (Rotterdam) or St. Anna Hospital (Geldrop, Netherlands). * Exclusions include bone healing disorders, coagulation issues, facial trauma history, smoking, craniofacial anomalies, and planned simultaneous genioplasty. Participants will: * Undergo preoperative assessment of inferior alveolar nerve function (two-point discrimination test, validated questionnaire). * Be randomized into: * Intervention group: BSSO performed entirely using piezosurgery. * Control group: BSSO performed with conventional burr and saw techniques. * Have their surgery performed by experienced maxillofacial surgeons following standardized protocols. * Have operative time and blood loss recorded during surgery. * Be followed up at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year for nerve function, sensory recovery, and infection assessment. * Complete postoperative questionnaires on sensory changes at 3 months and 1 year. * Have surgical outcomes evaluated by blinded examiners. * Contribute to a life cycle cost analysis (LCC) and life cycle assessment (LCA) comparing equipment cost, maintenance, energy use, waste generation, and environmental impact between techniques.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 65 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
70
Start Date
2025-10-01
Completion Date
2027-10-01
Last Updated
2025-09-15
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Interventions
Piezosurgery
Initially introduced in the field of implantology, piezosurgery has gained increasing popularity in orthognathic surgery in recent years (7-9). This technique utilizes ultrasonic vibrations ranging from 60-210 μm/s at frequencies between 24-29 kHz to cut bone, thereby minimizing trauma to surrounding soft tissue (10). Although numerous studies have been conducted, many clinical investigations have been limited by small sample sizes and insufficiently described methodologies (17, 18). Furthermore, the lack of standardized assessment tools hinders reliable comparisons of outcomes across studies (19). While surgeons increasingly recommend the use of piezosurqical instruments in orthognathic surgery, robust evidence from the literature remains insufficient to support the change in surgical technique.
Conventional techniques
In the control group a Lindemann burr will be used to perform the horizontal and vertical osteotomies and the cut at the lower border of the mandible. A reciprocal saw will then be used to connect the horizontal and vertical osteotomies in the sagittal plane.
Locations (2)
Anna Ziekenhuis
Geldrop, Netherlands
Erasmus Medical Center
Rotterdam, Netherlands