Unilateral intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy based on preoperative three-dimensional simulation surgery in a patient with facial asymmetry

Preoperative surgical simulation in orthognathic surgery has progressed in recent years; the movement of the mandible can be anticipated through three-dimensional (3D) simulation surgery before the actual procedure. In this case report, the mandible was moved to the intended postoperative occlusion through preoperative surgical 3D simulation. Right-side condylar movement change was very slight in the surgical simulation, suggesting the possibility of mandibular surgery that included only left-side ramal osteotomy. This case report describes a patient with a mild asymmetric facial profile in which the mandibular menton had been deviated to the right and the lips canted down to the left. Before surgery, three-dimensional surgical simulation was used to evaluate and confirm a position for the condyle as well as the symmetrical postoperative state of the face. Facial asymmetry was resolved with minimal surgical treatment through unilateral intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy on the left side of the mandible. It would be a valuable complement for the reduction of the surgical treatment if one could decide with good predictability when an isolated intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy can be done without a compensatory osteotomy on the contralateral side.