The surgical procedure of BSSO involves several steps:
Anesthesia: The procedure is performed under general anesthesia with nasal endotracheal intubation. Local anesthesia with lidocaine and epinephrine may also be used to minimize blood loss.
Intraoral Incision: An incision is made inside the mouth, typically behind and to the side of the patient’s last lower molars. This approach avoids external scars.
Bone Cuts: The surgeon makes cuts along the top and side edges of the jaw to create overlapping bone segments for repositioning.
Jaw Separation: Osteotomes are used to split the jaw along these cut edges.
Repositioning: The lower jaw is moved to its corrected position as determined during preoperative planning.
Fixation: The repositioned jaw segments are securely fixed in place using screws and plates.
Occlusion/Bite Adjustment: Intraoral wiring may be used to achieve proper occlusion and bite alignment.
Closure: The intraoral incision is closed in layers using absorbable sutures.