Orthognathic surgery and temporomandibular joint disorders: Functional and neuromuscular evaluation

The aim of this study is to evaluate the functional and neuromuscular changes after surgical-orthodontic treatment of orofacial skeletal discrepancies with concomitant craniomandibular disorders. The study was based on a group of 42 dysgnathic patients, 27 women and 15 men, aged 21 to 34 years, undergone to bimaxillary orthognatic surgery (31 cases) or monomaxillary surgery (11 cases). Were evaluated skeletal and dental malocclusion type, TMJ pain, headache, cervical pain, otovestibular symptoms and by electromyography and kinesiography the muscular activity and the mandibular movements. Were compared the different parameters collected before and after treatment, with a follow up of 6 month, 1, 2 and 3 years. The post-treatment results showed that all craniomandibular symptoms were significantly reduced postoperatively above all muscular spasms (98%) and headache (60%), mandibular kinesology (82%) was improved. Also cervical pain, otovestibular and postural symptoms seem to benefit from treatment. The combined surgical-orthodontic treatment may be of a great benefit in the correction of severe orofacial deformities associated to temporomandibular disorders improving quality of life.