Effects of sagittal split osteotomy on brainstem reflexes

Objectives This prospective study was designed to assess whether patients with skeletal deformities show characteristic masseter inhibitory reflex (MIR) and blink reflex (BR) patterns. A secondary aim was to investigate whether these reflexes change following bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO). Materials and methods Fourteen consecutive patients who underwent single-jaw BSSO and 14 class I subjects who constituted the control group were enrolled into the study. MIR and BR, obtained by the stimulation of supraorbital (SBR) and mental nerves (MBR), were electrophysiologically recorded. Sensory impairment in the mental nerve distribution was clinically tested. Three evaluation periods were specified as immediately before (T0), 1 month (T1) and 6 months (T2) after surgery. Results MIR early silent period duration was significantly shorter in the patients at T0 ( p