Is This Remaining Bone Gap On X-ray Normal After A Sliding Genioplasty?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I found your very interesting website. If I may, I would like to ask you a question please. I did a mentoplasty/sliding genioplasty exactly one year ago. But recent tomography still shows a bone gap which looks unexpected to me. I am pasting the photo below so you can see. But I am curious to know if you think this is a normal situation and I should wait longer for the gap to be completed filled. Probably my picture only shows bone with high density and I am not sure if I am missing any ongoing calcification process there. Thank you!

A: The bone gap you are seeing is real, it is not just imaging not being able to detect thin bone. No further bone healing would be expected at one year after surgery. I have seen thousands of 3D CT scans with sliding genioplasties and residual bone gaps do occur in large chin advancements, which clearly you had. It occurs in such advancements because there is virtually no bone contact between the two segments of bone in the middle as a result of the advancement. This may also explain the very uncommon plate and screw fixation used to secure it. (bilateral lateral straight plates)

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana