The Effect of Orthognathic Surgery on Osteoprotegerin as Immunological Caliper of Bone Healing

BACKGROUND: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is considered to be the cytokine that plays an important role in the healing process. OPG regulates bone cell biology, osteoblast–osteoclast, bone-immune cross-talk and maintenance of bone mass. It plays an important role in the development, induction, and repair of bone. Orthognathic surgery as multiples segmental osteotomies has been taken as a model surgery to assess the changes in osteoprotegerin levels in the post-operative bone healing period. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate OPG as immunological caliper of bone healing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: OPG was evaluated in nine patients seeking orthognathic surgery. Patients were examined and checked to be medically and immunologically free prior to surgery. Blood samples were collected immediate pre-operative as control group and for six weeks post-operative as study group. RESULTS: Data were collected from nine consecutive patients. The results showed higher levels of OPG. it showed significant increase in the immediate post-operative value (p = 0.001) which started to increase gradually during the six weeks (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Significant higher levels of OPG during the healing period of orthognathic surgery suggest the its use as immunological caliper of bone healing.