EVALUATION OF CHANGES FOLLOWING ADVANCEMENT GENIOPLASTY USING FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS

This study examined skeletal stability and the remodelling process fol lowing advanced pedicled genioplasty. Twenty patients who had advancem ent genioplasty concomitant with other adjunctive orthognathic surgery were evaluated. A finite element analysis method was used to assess t hese changes. The stability of the advanced segment was excellent afte r 6 months. At 6 months bone remodelling was observed in the form of b one apposition at B point and Pogonion with bone resorption at the sup erior aspect of the advanced segment. The genial segment rotated about 12 degrees antero-superiorly which was thought to be due to the actio n of the mentalis muscle. Finite element analysis is a sensitive tool for assessing changes after genioplasty and was able to separate them from the effects of other adjunctive orthognathic surgery.