Sagittal Split Osteotomy
A surgical procedure in which the mandibular ramus is split in the sagittal plane to allow forward or backward repositioning of the tooth-bearing segment.
Full Definition
The bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) is the most widely performed mandibular orthognathic surgical technique. Cuts are made through the medial and lateral cortical plates of the mandibular ramus, allowing the distal (tooth-bearing) segment to be advanced or set back while the proximal segment (containing the condyle) remains in its joint position. The two segments overlap and are fixed with plates and screws. Editors must distinguish the full term from its abbreviation BSSO and be aware that it may be referred to as the 'Obwegeser-Dal Pont osteotomy' in historical literature. Correct hyphenation is 'sagittal split osteotomy' without a hyphen between 'sagittal' and 'split'.
Usage
Usage note: Expand BSSO to 'bilateral sagittal split osteotomy' on first use. Do not hyphenate 'sagittal split'. Distinguish from vertical ramus osteotomy, which is an alternative mandibular procedure.
In Context
- "A bilateral sagittal split osteotomy was performed to advance the mandible by 6 mm." — Surgical operative report
- "The manuscript uses 'BSSO' before expanding the acronym; editors should reverse the order on first use." — Journal manuscript review note