Inverted L osteotomy: a new approach via intraoral access through the advances of virtual surgical planning and custom fixation

We introduce a novel surgical approach via intraoral access to the Inverted L osteotomy utilizing virtual surgical planning (VSP) and patient-specific customized mandibular fixation. VSP in orthognathic surgery has been well documented in its ability to increase preoperative and intraoperative efficiency, decrease cost and operating room time, and improve predictability and patient outcomes. In addition to occlusal splints, the adjunctive cutting guides and reference templates generated through computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing further aids in the precise transfer of the virtual plan to the intraoperative procedure. As the application of VSP is becoming more prevalent in the surgical treatment dentofacial deformities, 3-D virtual planning is moving beyond cutting jigs and guides and into the fabrication of patient-specific customized mandibular reconstruction plates in both the orthognathic and reconstructive arenas. Orthognathic surgery can be essential for the establishment of sound function and ideal esthetics for individuals who possess a dentofacial deformity. VSP and customized mandibular reconstruction plates have great potential to help safely guide the inverted L osteotomy and produce predictable functional and esthetic results while improving efficiency preoperatively as well as intraoperatively.