Postural Assessment in Class III Patients Before Orthognathic Surgery.

PURPOSE: To determine the postural characteristics of patients with Class III dentofacial deformities before orthognathic surgery by photogrammetry using SAPO postural assessment software.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Eligible participants were adult patients who had an indication for orthognathic surgery to correct skeletal Class III dentofacial deformities and were undergoing orthodontic preparation for surgery. Patients were recruited at the outpatient clinic for dentofacial deformities of the authors' institution from March to November 2015. Postural assessment was performed by photogrammetry based on anterior, posterior, and lateral images, which were analyzed using SAPO software.

RESULTS: The sample consisted of 40 patients with a mean age of 28.7 years; 55% were men. Postural changes were found in most anatomic structures, and the main changes were anterior displacement of the center of gravity (sagittal plane asymmetry, 43.77%) and a tendency to left lateral deviation (frontal plane asymmetry, -3.89%). The anterior view showed a pattern of head tilt to the left (measured value minus reference value [Δ], -0.22), elevation of the left acromion (Δ, 2.31), elevation of the right anterior superior iliac spine (Δ, -0.56), right knee with genu varum (Δ, 1.25), and left knee with genu valgum (Δ, -1.55). The posterior view displayed scapular asymmetry with abduction of the right scapula (Δ, 7.54) and valgus foot deformity (Δright, 8.35; Δleft, 11.60). The lateral view depicted decreased cervical lordosis (Δright, 22.63; Δleft, 19.98), pelvic anteversion (Δright, -0.56; Δleft, -0.26), and genu flexum at the right (Δ, 6.85) and left (Δ, 4.40) knees. Twenty-seven patients (67.5%) reported temporomandibular joint pain.

CONCLUSIONS: Postural assessment by photogrammetry showed that most anatomic structures were outside the normal range in patients with skeletal Class III dentofacial deformities before orthognathic surgery. These results suggest that dentofacial abnormalities can lead to postural disorders in this population.