A South Carolina woman had jaw surgery (Lefort 1 osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split osteotomy) on June 16, 2020 at the Medical University of South Carolina (“MUSC”). She alleged in her South Carolina medical malpractice lawsuit that her medical providers failed to properly investigate her complaints of severe nerve pain, facial weakness, and other complications following her surgery, which she alleged were signs that her jaw was dislocated and was putting pressure on her facial nerves.
The woman further alleged in her South Carolina medical malpractice lawsuit that the defendants negligently treated her with pain medications and failed to perform corrective surgery. As a result, she alleged that she suffered permanent injury to her facial nerves.
The woman subsequently underwent revision surgery at Legacy Emanuel Hospital.
LeFort I Osteotomy
The LeFort I osteotomy is one of the most commonly used procedures to correct midface deformities. It allows for correction in three dimensions including advancement, retrusion, elongation, and shortening. It is indicated, often in conjunction with mandibular surgery, for class II and III malocclusion, facial asymmetry, obstructive sleep apnea, and maxillary atrophy. Before surgery, proper orthodontics and surgical planning should be undertaken to ensure adequate outcomes. Overall, the surgery is widely used due to its low complication profile and reliable long-term results.
Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy (BSSO)
Orthognathic surgery involves the surgical correction of the components of the facial skeleton to restore the proper anatomical and functional relationship in patients with dentofacial skeletal abnormalities. An important component of orthognathic surgery is the bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO), which is the most commonly performed jaw surgery, either with or without upper jaw surgery. Indications for a bilateral sagittal split include horizontal mandibular excess, deficiency, and/or asymmetry. It is the most commonly performed procedure for mandibular advancement and can also be utilized for a mandibular setback of small to moderate magnitude. More than 7 to 8 mm of posterior repositioning of the mandible with a BSSO can be difficult, and consideration should be given to an inverted “L” osteotomy or intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO). Asymmetry cases require careful workup and planning, but can be easily addressed with a BSSO. Cases requiring large advancements, patients with poor soft tissue envelopes, and skeletally immature mandibles are better addressed with mandibular distraction osteogenesis. The bilateral sagittal split osteotomy is an indispensable surgical procedure for the correction of mandibular deformities. Undertaking the correction of these deformities requires a thorough knowledge of the indications, technique, and complications of the sagittal split osteotomy.
If you or a loved one suffered serious harm as a result of medical negligence in South Carolina or in another U.S. state, you should promptly find a South Carolina medical malpractice lawyer, or a medical malpractice lawyer in your state, who may investigate your medical negligence claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a medical malpractice case, if appropriate.
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