Orthognathic surgery to improve malocclusion in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

Abstract

Malocclusion is a common finding in both companion animals and humans due to dental or maxillofacial discrepancies. Treatment depends on the complications and the species it presents in. In humans, orthognathic surgery is commonly performed to address skeletal malocclusions. A male chimpanzee born in 2002 and orphaned due to the bush meat pet trade was rescued in 2010 by Chimp Eden, a chimpanzee sanctuary. In 2017, it presented with inappetence and weight loss of 6-month duration. After a computed tomography scan was performed and full mouth impressions were made, a diagnosis of asymmetry of the mandible with the left side markedly shorter and rotated along its long axis was made (malocclusion class IV in a side-to-side direction). A bilateral sagittal split operation was performed to correct the malocclusion and improve its feeding. At the time of writing this report, it was eating freely and no complications were seen on multiple post-operative radiographs.