Evaluation of Cephalometric Changes and Its Relation to Changes in Patients' Quality of Life After Mandibular Setback Surgery

Purpose To find out if a relationship exists between the different cephalometric changes and the perception of patients before and after Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy (BSSO) setback surgery. Patients and Methods Sample consisted of 28 patients (mean age 23.78 +/- 1.36 years), Male:Female = 1:1.3, with a median follow-up of 10 +/- 1.8 months, with skeletal class III malocclusion treated with BSSO setback surgery. Pre- and post-surgery lateral cephalograms were analysed. The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) questionnaire was used to assess the patients' quality of life after surgery. Cephalometric data were then correlated with the questionnaire results. Results The psychological and social aspects of OHIP questionnaire were most affected. The most significant correlation between OHIP score change and cephalometric parameters was found with reduction of 'lower lip protrusion'; and significantly positive correlations were with increase in ANB angle and reduction in values of SND angle, N-B distance, lower lip length, lower facial height, mentolabial angle and angle of facial convexity. Conclusions A significant relationship exists between the subjective and objective parameters which should be considered while planning for orthognathic surgery. Results of this study could be beneficial, helping the clinicians, to emphasise on specific cephalometric variable with the patient-specific expectations.