Treatment of class 2 malocclusion by corrective osteotomy using two short locking compression plates.

This article explains how a certain surgical procedure using two short locking compression plates could be effectively used for treating class 2 malocclusions, or a misalignment of the upper and lower teeth, in horses. It shows that despite a few complications, the final outcome was generally positive.

Introduction

• The study focuses on treating class 2 malocclusions in horses, which is essentially a condition where the upper and lower teeth don’t align properly. The goal of the study was to provide an innovative treatment employing a spatial symphyseal osteotomy technique and utilizing two short locking compression plates (LCPs).

Methods

• The researchers employed a case series method on five horses, aged between 8 months to almost 6 years, with different levels of overjets and overbites.
• The treatment included an osteotomy (a surgical operation where a bone is cut to shorten, lengthen, or change its alignment) through the caudal third of the mandibular symphysis—a part of the horses’ mandible or lower jaw.
• Two short and bent LCPs were applied to each side of the osteotomy which were secured with screws. In one case, the osteotomy gap was filled with bone marrow.

Results

• The study noted that the outcomes were generally ‘good to excellent’. While complications arose in some cases like requiring a second surgery for non-occlusion of the cheek teeth or abnormal deviation of the mandible, these were treatable.
• It was observed that in three cases where a persistent fistula existed, removing the LCPs post bridging led to the resolution of the drainage and the healing of the wounds.

Conclusions

• The paper mentions that the study suffered from a small and heterogeneous sample size, implying that larger samples with a broader range of severity could lead to a more definitive understanding.
• Nevertheless, it concluded that the technique using two short LCPs can be an effective correction method for class 2 malocclusions. It is less invasive and preserves the roots of the incisors and cheek teeth, as well as the mandibular canal.
• The technique also provides considerable stability with smaller implants than other techniques that require transection of both rami (extensions of the mandible).