Anatomic and functional masseter muscle adaptation following orthognathic surgery—MRI analysis in 3 years of follow-up

Categoria: Cirurgia Ortognática

Autores: Fernando Duarte, João Neves Silva, Carina Ramos and Colin Hopper

Referência: Anatomic and functional masseter muscle adaptation following orthognathic surgery—MRI analysis in 3 years of follow-up

Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery| (2024) 46:26

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40902-024-00437-6

Abstract:

Background
Orthodontic and surgical technical advances in recent years have resulted in treatment opportunities for a whole range of craniofacial skeletal disorders either in the adolescent or adult patient. In the growing child, these can include myofunctional orthodontic appliance therapy or distraction osteogenesis procedures, while in the adult, the mainstay approach revolves around orthognathic surgery.

The literature agrees that for a change in craniofacial morphology to remain stable, the muscles acting upon the facial skeleton must be capable of adaptation in their structure and, therefore, their function. Failure of the muscles to adapt to the change in their length or orientation will place undesirable forces on the muscle attachments leading to potential instability of the skeleton. Adaptation can occur through various processes including those within the neuromuscular feedback mechanism, through changes within muscle structure or through altered muscle physiology, and through changes at the muscle/bone interface.

It is now accepted that because there is no single method of assessing masticatory function, several measures should be taken, and whenever possible, simultaneously.