Bicortical screws have been widely used for mandibular osteosynthesis during orthognathic surgery.Transoral placement of bicortical screws is a rigid fixation method in orthognathic surgery, which is less often used.

The aim of this study was to compare postoperative outcome of transoral versus transbuccal bicortical screw placement during orthognathic surgery.

This study comprises an academic, retrospective, monocentric study in which the charts of orthognathic patients operated between January 2010 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Postoperative complications were registered. Demographic, dental and surgical parameters are examined as potential risk factors for the occurence of postoperative complications.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients of all ages
• patients of all genders
• patients who had undergone a bimaxillary osteotomy, a bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSO), a BSSO with a chin osteotomy or a trimaxillary osteotomy

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients where cement had been used at the osteotomy sites
• patients who had undergone a multisegmented mandibular osteotomy
• patients who had undergone an osteosynthesis with plates
• patients where the postoperative orthopantomogram was unavailable
• patients where data regarding the type of screw placement was unavailable

All orthognathic patients operated in the lower jaw between January 2010 and December 2012 at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, General Hospital Saint-John Bruges, Belgium