Long-term results in maxillary deficiency using intraoral devices

Cleft lip and palate patients often present maxillary retrusion and class III malocclusion after cleft repair. Maxillary distraction is a technique that can provide simultaneous skeletal advancement and expansion of soft tissue. Twelve patients with cleft maxillary deficiency due to cleft lip and palate were treated by Le Fort I osteotomy and two intraoral distraction devices that were activated after 4 days of latency period, 1mm per day on both sides. Long-term clinical and cephalometric evaluation of one and two years demonstrate stable results concerning the skeletal, dental and soft tissue relations. In this paper we discuss the advantages of distraction osteogenesis as a method for treatment of maxillary deficiency in cleft patients in terms of stability and relapse. The indications for maxillary distraction: (1) Moderate and severe retrusion that needs large advancement as in cleft lip and palate patients. (2) Forward and downward lengthening of the maxilla with no need for intermediate bone graft. (3) Growing patients. In conclusion, maxillary distraction in moderate or severe retrusion, as in cleft patients offers marked maxillary advancement with long-term stability.     

Stability of maxillary advancement using rigid fixation and porous-block hydroxyapatite grafting: cleft palate versus non-cleft patients

This study was undertaken to evaluate the stability of maxillary advancement using bone plates for skeletal stabilization and porous block hydroxyapatite (PBHA) as a bone graft substitute for interpositional grafting in cleft and non-cleft patients. The records of 74 patients (41 females, 33 males) who underwent Le Fort I maxillary advancement using rigid fixation and PBHA interpositional grafting were evaluated retrospectively. All patients also underwent simultaneous sagittal split mandibular ramus osteotomies. Patients were divided into 2 groups for study purposes: group 1 consisted of 17 cleft palate patients and group 2 consisted of 57 non-cleft patients. Each group was further subdivided into 2 subgroups based on the concurrent vertical positioning of the maxillary incisors: groups 1a and 2a, where the maxilla underwent 3 mm or more of inferior repositioning, and groups 1b and 2b, where the maxilla underwent minimal vertical change (< or = 1 mm). Presurgery, immediate postsurgery, and longest follow-up lateral cephalometric tracings were superimposed and analyzed to calculate surgical change and long-term stability of results by assessing horizontal and vertical changes at point A, incisor superius, and the mesial cusp tip of maxillary first molar. The average follow-up time in group 1 was 37.9 months (range 12 to 136) and in group 2 was 28.77 months (range 17 to 88). Average maxillary advancement at point A was: group 1a, 5.4 mm; group 1b, 5.25 mm; group 2a, 5.48 mm; group 2b, 5.46 mm. Average relapse at point A was: group 1a, -0.75 mm; group 1b, -1 mm; group 2a, -0.47 mm; group 2b, -0.48 mm. Average horizontal and/or vertical relapse at the central incisors and first molars was 1 mm or less in group 1 and less than 0.5 mm in group 2. Although there was a slightly greater relapse in group 1, no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups. Maxillary advancement with Le Fort 1 osteotomies using rigid fixation and interpositional PBHA grafting during bimaxillary surgery is a stable procedure with good predictability in cleft and non-cleft patients, regardless of the direction of vertical maxillary movement.     

The stability of Le Fort I advancement osteotomies using bone plates without bone grafts

The stability of Le Fort I advancement osteotomies using 4 "Champy" stainless steel mini plates without bone grafts was studied. Eleven consecutive patients, 3 of whom had cleft lips and palates were evaluated retrospectively. Seven patients had bimaxillary procedures. Cephalometric radiographs were taken preoperatively, immediately after operation and at least six months later. The mean maxillary advancement in the horizontal direction was 3.7 mm. The radiographs were traced and the results were subjected to a statistical analysis. No significant relapse was found.     

Stability after Le Fort I osteotomy in cleft lip and palate patients

Le Fort I osteotomies were performed in 20 patients with cleft lip and palate as a one-segment movement, and the fragments were fixed with miniplates without bone grafting. Tracings of preoperative and serial postoperative lateral cephalograms were used to determine changes in maxillary position. The posterior nasal spine, not subjected to extensive changes during surgical procedures and remodeling, was found to be the most reliable landmark for measuring maxillary advancement and stability. The mean maxillary advancement was 5.96 mm. Analysis did not reveal significant changes in linear and angular measurements from immediately postoperative to 6 months postoperative. A modest maxillary advancement by Le Fort I osteotomy, along with alleviation of palatal scar tissue tension and miniplate fixation, is a stable surgical method in patients with cleft lip and palate.     

Factors related to relapse after Le Fort I maxillary advancement osteotomy in patients with cleft lip and palate.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with relapse after maxillary advancement in cleft lip and palate patient. SUBJECTS: Seventy-one cleft lip and palate patients underwent Le Fort I maxillary advancement osteotomy between 1988 and 1998, and 58 patients (42 unilateral cleft and 16 bilateral cleft) with complete data were investigated for relapse by clinical and cephalometric analysis. The clinical follow-up period ranged from 1.5 to 8.5 years (mean 2.5 years). RESULTS: Horizontal advancement averaged 6.9 mm. There was a significant correlation between surgical movement and postoperative relapse in both the horizontal and vertical planes. In vertical repositioning, 15 patients had maxillary intrusion and 31 had inferior repositioning. There was a significant difference between the intrusion group and the inferior repositioning group. There was a significant correlation between surgical and postoperative rotation regardless of the direction. Other factors were evaluated by the horizontal relapse rate. Type of cleft and the rate of relapse were statistically associated. A relapse was more likely to occur in patients with bilateral cleft. There were no significant associations with the rate of relapse in type of operations or previous alveolar bone grafting. There was no significant correlation between the rate of relapse and the number of missing anterior teeth, postoperative overbite and overjet, and age at operation. Four of 71 patients experienced major relapse, and 3 of them underwent jaw surgery again. CONCLUSIONS: Based on clinical and cephalometric analysis, two-jaw surgery should be performed in cases of severe maxillary hypoplasia, and overcorrection may be useful in inferior repositioning or surgical rotation. Special attention should be paid to the patient with bilateral cleft, multiple missing teeth, or shallow postoperative overbite.     

Skeletal stability of Le Fort I osteotomy in patients with isolated cleft palate and bilateral cleft lip and palate

The skeletal stability of Le Fort I osteotomy was evaluated retrospectively in 14 patients with isolated cleft palate (CP, mean age 27.2 years) and 11 patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP, mean age 23.7 years). The osteotomy was fixed with titanium plates and the osteotomy gap was grafted with autologous bone. Neither intermaxillary fixation nor occlusal splints were used postoperatively. Skeletal stability was analysed both horizontally and vertically by cephalograms taken shortly before operation, immediately afterwards, and at six months and at one year postoperatively. In the CP group the mean maxillary horizontal advancement (point A) was 4.7 mm (range 0.3-7.8) and the mean vertical lengthening 3.6 mm (range 0.7-6.1). One year postoperatively the mean relapse was 8.5% (0.4 mm) horizontally and 16.7% (0.6 mm) vertically. In the BCLP group the mean horizontal advancement was 5.3 mm (range 0.2-10.7) and the mean vertical lengthening 7.3 mm (range 0.6-11.8). The mean postoperative relapse was 9.4% (0.5 mm) horizontally and 17.8% (1.3 mm) vertically. The skeletal stability and relapse were similar in both cleft types although BCLP patients had more residual cleft problems and their mean surgical advancement was greater. There was great individual variation.     

Stability of orthodontic-maxillofacial surgical treatment of anterior open bite deformities]

A sample of 267 patients with maxillary hyperplasia, a Class I or Class II occlusion and anterior open bite, collected from three different institutions, was analysed regarding stability after Le Fort I intrusion osteotomies or bimaxillary osteotomies. Skeletal and dento-alveolar stability of the maxilla, postional changes of the mandible and of incisors were evaluated on cephalometric radiographs. The stability of maxillary arch dimensions after correction of the open bite is measured on dental casts. Patients with anterior open bite, treated with a Le Fort I osteotomy in one-piece or in multi-segments, with or without bilateral sagittal split osteotomy exhibited good skeletal stability of the maxilla. Rigid internal fixation showed better maxillary and mandibular stability than intraosseous wire fixation. Considerable relapse of transverse dimensions, however, was measured after orthodontic and surgical expansion. The mean overbite at the 69 months follow-up was 1.24 mm and lacking of overlap between opposing incisors was present in 19%.     

A pilot study of the effects of transpalatal maxillary advancement on velopharyngeal closure in cleft palate patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Impaired velopharyngeal closure function is sometimes a complication of a standard Le Fort I maxillary advancement in cleft palate patients. The transpalatal Le Fort I osteotomy has been suggested as an alternative technique that may avoid this problem. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the effects of the transpalatal approach on velopharyngeal function in a series of cleft palate patients. PATIENTS: Sixteen consecutive patients with a history of cleft palate exhibiting maxillary hypoplasia who underwent a transpalatal Le Fort I osteotomy. METHODS: All patients had a simultaneous audio/video speech recording and nasopharyngoscopy examination prior to maxillary advancement, followed by a repeat of the same examinations at least 1 year post-operatively. Velopharyngeal function was measured in two ways: by direct observation using nasopharyngoscopy, and indirectly by means of perceptual assessment. Reliability studies of the two measures were performed with satisfactory results. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found between the pre- and post-operative data in either the perceptual speech assessment or nasopharyngoscopy examination. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that maxillary advancement by transpalatal Le Fort I osteotomy does not adversely affect velopharyngeal closure function.     

Changes in soft tissue thickness after Le Fort I osteotomy in different cleft types

The soft tissue thickness before and after Le Fort I osteotomy was evaluated in 46 cleft patients. The sample consisted of 10 patients with isolated cleft palate (CP, mean age 25.5 years); 10 patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP, mean age 21.7 years); and 26 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP, mean age 22.9 years). Patients with bimaxillary surgery, simultaneous rhinoplasty, or V-Y plasty of the upper lip were excluded. Soft tissue changes were analyzed by cephalograms taken shortly before surgery and at 6 months postoperatively. Horizontal advancement varied from 4.1 mm in the UCLP group to 5 mm in the BCLP group. The vertical lengthening varied from 3.7 mm in the CP group to 7.2 mm in the BCLP group. In all cleft types, thinning of the subnasal area, superior labial sulcus, and upper lip (anterior nasal spine-subnasale, point A-soft tissue point A, and prosthion-labrale superius) took place. Significant thinning of the upper lip occurred in the UCLP and BCLP patients. Surgical changes of the lower lip and mandibular area were small and insignificant. There were significant differences in soft tissue thicknesses between different types of clefts. The subnasal area and superior labial sulcus were significantly thicker in the CP group than in the BCLP or UCLP groups, both pre- and postoperatively. The upper lip was thickest in the BCLP group preoperatively but thickest in the CP group postoperatively. The upper lip was thinnest in the UCLP group both before and after the operation.     

Maxillary distraction resulting in facial advancement at Le Fort III level in cleft lip and palate patients: a report of two cases

An 18-year-old female and a 14-year-old male who had previously received surgery for primary repair of a nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate (including alveolar defect bone grafting) unintentionally developed facial advancement at the Le Fort III level after surgical correction of their maxillary hypoplasia. The Le Fort I osteotomy, originally performed for their maxillary dentoalveolar hypoplasia, was an incomplete osteotomy. It was performed without down-fracture, leaving the pterygomaxillary and septal junctions intact. The gradual advancement of the maxilla during distraction osteogenesis was planned to correct the hypoplastic maxilla, and also prevent subsequent hypernasality; however, during the distraction procedure by means of a rigid external device both patients developed an unintentional facial advancement at the Le Fort III level.     

Le Fort I in cleft patients: 20 years' experience

Primary surgery for cleft lip, alveolus, and palate is only the beginning of management for this condition, because the congenital malformation and the scars of corrective surgery during infancy affect the physiological development of the skeleton and the soft tissue. Once the patient has stopped growing, therefore, secondary maxillomandibular malformation is frequent in these patients. The most frequent skeletal malformations in secondary cleft lip and palate are hypoplasia and malposition in the three planes of the superior maxilla space. In these cases, combined orthodontic and surgical treatment is necessary; of the various techniques available, Le Fort I osteotomy is the one most indicated for repositioning of the maxilla. Although this technique is now standardized to correct the simple maxillo-mandibular malformation, in the case of secondary malformation in the cleft lip and palate, modifications are necessary in the surgical technique to ensure the best esthetic and functional result and to reduce the possibility of relapse. After 20 years' experience in the treatment of secondary skeletal malformation in cleft lip, alveolus, and palate, a critical review is made of the different steps of planning and performing Le Fort I osteotomy in these patients.     

Le Fort I osteotomy in cleft patients: Maxillary advancement and velopharyngeal function

BackgroundMaxillary advancement may affect speech in cleft patients.AimsTo evaluate whether the amount of maxillary advancement in Le Fort I osteotomy affects velopharyngeal function (VPF) in cleft patients.MethodsNinety-three non-syndromic cleft patients (51 females, 42 males) were evaluated retrospectively. All patients had undergone a Le Fort I or bimaxillary (n = 24) osteotomy at Helsinki Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Center.Preoperative and postoperative lateral cephalometric radiographs were digitized to measure the amount of maxillary advancement. Pre- and postoperative speech was assessed perceptually and instrumentally by experienced speech therapists. Student's t-test and Mann–Whitney's U-test were used in the statistical analyses. Kappa statistics were calculated to assess reliability.ResultsThe mean advancement of A point was 4.0 mm horizontally (range: −2.8–11.3) and 3.9 mm vertically (range −14.2–3.9). Although there was a negative change in VPF, the amount of maxillary horizontal or vertical movement did not significantly influence the VPF. There was no difference between the patients with maxillary and bimaxillary osteotomy.ConclusionsThe amount of maxillary advancement does not affect the velopharyngeal function in cleft patients.     

Stability of maxillary advancement for correction of skeletal Class III malocclusion after combined maxillary and mandibular procedures: preliminary results of an active control equivalence trial for semirigid and rigid fixation of the maxilla

In this paper preliminary results are presented of a prospective study designed to examine the effect of maxillary fixation methods on postoperative stability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability of Le Fort I osteotomy stabilized with semirigid fixation of the maxilla (SRMF) or rigid fixation of the maxilla (RMF). All patients had skeletal Class III malocclusion and underwent bimaxillary surgery (Le Fort I maxillary advancement with or without superior repositioning and bilateral sagittal split osteotomies of the mandible). Standardized cephalometric analysis was performed on serial radiographs of 42 patients immediately before surgery, 1 week after surgery, after release of fixation, and 1 year postoperatively. The patients were randomized into 2 treatment groups: 23 patients received RMF (group A), and 19 patients received SRMF (group B). Within the groups, patients showed good stability with regard to their baseline characteristics. To show the therapeutic equivalence of the 2 treatments, analysis of the recorded data followed the approach for an equivalence trial. The mean surgical advancement was 5.34 +/- 1.50 mm for group A and 4.51 +/- 1.37 mm for group B. The mean amount of postsurgical relapse was 0.98 +/- 1.27 mm for group A and 0.30 +/- 1.04 mm for group B. Group A patients experienced 93% of their relapse (0.92 mm) during fixation, while group B patients experienced 96% of their relapse (0.29 mm) after release of fixation. RMF provided better stability than SRMF for all maxillary landmarks in the vertical plane. All considered points both in horizontal and vertical plane exhibited full equivalence for 95% confidence intervals, which seems to indicate equivalent stability between the surgical procedures.     

The skeletal stability of one-piece Le Fort 1 osteotomy to advance the maxilla; Part 1. Stability resulting from non-bone grafted rigid fixation

During the past decade, we have increasingly preferred to do a one-piece Le Fort 1 osteotomy to advance the maxilla, sometimes in isolation to treat patients with maxillary retrusive skeletal Class III patients or combined with mandibular advancement to treat bimaxillary retrusive skeletal Class II. Clinical impressions of rigid fixation techniques have indicated that there is improved stability when compared with wire fixation. There are few studies in the literature that have addressed relapse following one-piece Le Fort 1 osteotomy to advance the maxilla. Such surgery involves one single spatial movement and thereby eliminates other possible surgical variables, which may impact on the degree of stability achievable postoperatively. We studied 45 patients who had undergone a uniform one-piece maxillary advancement with elimination of controllable variables, apart from 15 patients who had simultaneous mandibular advancement. Rigid fixation was adopted throughout the study. The mean surgical change documented was 7.42 mm. The mean stability calculated at 12 months revealed a relapse of 0.72 mm (10%). This was not significant (P = 0.3). We conclude that the Le Fort 1 advancement osteotomy is a stable and surgically predictable procedure that gives only slight relapse at 12 months.     

Skeletal relapse of maxillary osteotomies in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients

The outcomes of a consecutive series of 10 adults who had unilateral cleft lip and palate and who had undergone Le Fort I advancement fixed with miniplates were investigated. The amount and timing of horizontal and vertical relapse, the correlation between advancement and relapse, and the effectiveness of various methods of internal fixation were analyzed with respect to the authors' clinical experience and the data from the international literature. Tracings of the preoperative and serial postoperative lateral cephalograms--taken immediately and during the 1 1/2 to 2 postoperative years--were analyzed to calculate horizontal and vertical maxillary change. We found that the use of rigid fixation is associated with a significantly more stable postoperative result, as described by other authors. Our study suggests that this useful technique does not eliminate but reduces and controls the problem of relapse in a series of unilateral cleft lip and palate adult patients undergoing Le Fort I osteotomy.     

Soft tissue changes of the upper lip associated with maxillary advancement in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study evaluated the horizontal and vertical soft tissue changes that occur with maxillary advancement surgery with a Le Fort I osteotomy with concomitant anatomic reorientation of the nasolabial musculature. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifteen OSA patients who underwent maxillary advancement with a Le Fort I osteotomy without adjunctive nasal soft tissue procedures were studied after a minimum of 8 months of follow-up. The V-Y technique was used to close the maxillary vestibular incision. Only cases with minimal vertical movement (< 3.5 mm) in which no orthodontics were used were included. The average maxillary advancement was 8.0 +/- 2.5 mm, measured at the upper incisor (UPI) and the average vertical movement was 0.7 +/- 1.8 mm. The horizontal and vertical soft tissue change in subnasale (SN), labrale superiorus (LS), superior stomion (SS), nasal tip (NT), nasolabial angle (NLA), and lip length were measured in each patient and correlated with hard tissue measurements at anterior nasal spine (ANS) and UPI. The effect of lip thickness on these soft tissue changes also was evaluated. RESULTS: Using mean data, the horizontal soft-to-hard-tissue ratio for LS to UPI was 0.80:1, with a concomitant vertical (superior) soft tissue change to hard tissue advancement of 0.16:1. Lip length did not change significantly. All patients except 1 showed a slight decrease in nasolabial angle. The average decrease was 5 (range, -10 to +7 ). There was no statistically significant correlation between the degree of change in NLA and the amount of maxillary advancement. CONCLUSION: This study showed that advancement of the maxilla when controlling vertical movement resulted in the a hard-to-soft-tissue ratio of LS:UPI of 0.80:1. NLA did not change significantly.     

A new Le Fort I internal distraction device in the treatment of severe maxillary hypoplasia.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot study was to test a new Le Fort I internal distraction device. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A new internal Le Fort I distraction device designed by 1 of the authors was used in 3 patients with cleft lip and palate and severe maxillary hypoplasia who needed maxillary advancements in excess of 12 mm. Presurgical planning used CASSOS (SoftEnable Technology, Ltd, Hong Kong SAR, China) prediction tracing software and a stereolithographic model to calculate the distraction vector. The distractors were pre-bent and installed on the stereolithographic model and activated to advance the maxilla. Surgery was performed in a conventional manner, and distraction was started after a 7-day latency phase at the rate of 1 mm/day and continued until the presurgical plan was achieved. The distractor was removed after a 3-month consolidation phase. Cephalometric radiographs were taken at the completion of each phase. RESULTS: This new Le Fort I internal distraction device successfully distracted the maxillae as planned in all 3 patients. At the end of the distraction phase, the maxillary advancement was measured at 15.8 mm, 15.8 mm, and 13.5 mm, respectively. In each patient, a clockwise rotation of the maxilla was observed with a tendency to a posterior open bite. Postoperative radiographs also showed that the actual distraction vectors differed from the planned vectors. After the consolidation phase, radiographs showed a relapse of 2.6 mm, 0 mm, and 5.0 mm, respectively. There was no further relapse on 3-month follow-up radiographs. Each case showed radiographic evidence of excellent new bone formation at the osteotomy sites. CONCLUSION: The new Le Fort I internal distraction device produced the necessary advancement in all 3 patients. The study also showed that the actual distraction vector differed from the planned vector. This discrepancy was caused by a clockwise rotation of the maxilla during the distraction. Finally, the study showed a variable relapse rate not previously reported in maxillary distraction.     

上颌前徙术对上颌发育不足患者腭咽部结构影响的临床探讨

目的：探讨上颌前移术对上颌发育不足患者腭咽部结构的影响。方法：选择2011-2013年行上颌Le FortI型截骨前移术的上颌发育不足患者12例,男7例,女5例,其中唇腭裂患者5例,非唇腭裂患者7例,平均年龄22．21岁,所有患者在术前、术后1月拍摄头颅定位侧位片,并对腭咽部结构指标进行测量分析。结果：上颌骨最大前移幅度8mill,最小3mm,平均前移（5．28±2．32）mm,术后咽腔深度明显增大（P〈0．05）;同时软腭长度及软硬腭夹角较术前11月显增大（P〈0．05）,软腭厚度减小。结论：上颌骨前移术造成患者咽腔深度显著增加,对腭咽闭合功能可能有不利影响：术后腭叫部软组织发生适应性变化,这种代偿性改变会在一定程度上减轻腭咽闭合不全。     

唇腭裂患者牵张成骨术后的侧貌变化

目的：通过对唇腭裂术后继发上颌骨发育不足患者进行口外支架式前牵张治疗术后6～24个月的随访,观察分析其侧貌变化,为合理使用牵张器提供参考。方法：选取1998—2002年间上海交通大学医学院附属第九人民医院进行牵张成骨治疗、按时随访的唇腭裂患者14例进行术后随访分析。随访期分别为术后3、6、12、24个月,分别拍摄头颅定位侧位片及照片,记录患者的侧貌变化。结果：14例患者在牵张成骨术后6个月,至术后24个月,3例表现为双颌前突畸形,3例仍表现为面中部凹陷,1例表现为前牙开。结论：牵张成骨术治疗唇腭裂术后上颌骨发育不足患者具有一定优势,但牵张方向及牵张量难以控制,术后侧貌时不尽满意。因此,唇腭裂患者继发上颌骨发育不足在行牵张成骨术治疗时,应综合考虑多种因素的影响。     

Le Fort Ⅰ型截骨术在唇腭裂正颌外科中的应用与评价

目的:观察分析Le Fort Ⅰ型截骨术在唇腭裂正颌外科中的应用效果.方法:回顾2004年3月至2006年12月武汉大学口腔医学院口腔颌面外科收治的唇腭裂患者的临床资料,并进行总结与分析,所有患者均进行了以Le Fort Ⅰ型截骨术为主的正颌外科治疗.结果:共收集相关病例16例,其中男9例,女7例,平均年龄22.4岁.术前∠SNA平均73.2°,术后LSNA平均79.5°;上颌前移距离平均8.13mm.平均随访时间7.3个月.所有患者术后面容改善明显,经正畸治疗后咬合关系满意.结论:以Le Fort Ⅰ型截骨术为主的正颌外科治疗,可以显著改善唇腭裂患者的颌骨与面容畸形.