Royal Bloodline? Hmmm....

Pathologic mandibular prognathism is a potentially disfiguring, genetic disorder where the lower jaw outgrows the upper, resulting in an extended chin.

The condition colloquially is known as Habsburg jaw, Habsburg lip or Austrian Lip due to its prevalence in that bloodline. The trait is easily traceable in portraits of Habsburg family members.

It is alleged to have been derived from Cymburgis of Masovia from the Masovian Piast Dynasty when she married into the Habsburgs and passed her protruding lip to her offspring. This would become a particular physical characteristic of most members of the Habsburg family for many generations until the 18th century. Not only did Cymburgis have a protruding lip, tradition has it that she was also known for her exceptional strength, which, for example, she showed by driving nails into the wall with her bare hands and cracking nuts between her fingers.

Traits such as mandibular prognathism that were common to royal families are believed to have been passed on and exaggerated over time through royal intermarriage which caused acute inbreeding. Due to the large amount of politically motivated intermarriage among Habsburgs, the dynasty was virtually unparalleled in the degree of its inbreeding. Charles II of Spain is said to have had the most pronounced case of the Habsburg jaw on record. His jaw was so deformed that he was unable to chew!

By the way, Marie Antoinette had abnormal prognathism and was considered to be quite beautiful!

So what the heck is a Sagittal Split Osteomy You might be asking!

Definition from Wikipedia: First, a horizontal cut is made on the inner side of the ramus mandibulae, extending anterally to the anterior portion of the ascending ramus. The cut is then made inferiorly on the ascending ramus to the descending ramus, extending to the lateral border of the mandible in the area between the first and second molar. At this time, a vertical cut is made extending inferior to the body of the mandible, to the inferior border of the mandible. All cuts are made into the middle of the bone, where bone marrow is present. Then, a chisel is inserted into the pre existing cuts and tapped gently in all areas to split the mandible of the left and right side. From here, the mandible can be moved either forwards or backwards. If sliding backwards, the distal segment must be trimmed to provide room in order to slide the mandible backwards. Lastly, the jaw is stabilized using stabilizing screws that are inserted extra-orally. The jaw is then wired shut for approximately 1-5 weeks.

Who is Claire?

Claire is my daughter, she will be 17 on July 28th 2010. On August 5, 2010 she will be undergoing Ortognathic (Jaw) Surgery. The procedure she will have is called a Sagital Split Osteomy to correct a condition in which her lower jaw outgrew her the upper jaw, resulting in an extended chin and under bite.

There are several reason I have created this blog. I wanted to document this procedure primarily for her sake, I am sure there will be times while Claire is healing she will wonder was this worth it. Perhaps, if she see the changes and progress being made she will be able to answer that question clearly. I wanted a place to post her progress for our friends and family. I also wanted to provide information to anyone contemplating this surgery in the future. Most of all, I did this because I love Claire!!