Ulrich Joos

After sagittal split osteotomy, osteosynthesis for stabilization of the fragments is usually performed by means of rigid or semirigid fixation to avoid maxillomandibular fixation. Sometimes, this leads to malpositioning of the fragments with resulting “immediate relapse” or disturbances of the temporomandibular joints. Therefore, the split-fix plate with a glider was developed, which allows three-dimensional adjustment, even after fixation of the fragments. The configuration of the system avoids intra-operative dislocation of the mandibular condyle. The method was used successfully in 40 patients, of whom 27 had mandibular retrognathism and 13 had mandibular prognathism. In particular, there has been no evidence of resorptive changes. There were no postoperative complications (Joos, 1998).