Maxillary stability after Le Fort I osteotomy with self-setting α-tricalcium phosphate and an absorbable plate

The purpose of this study was to compare retrospectively postoperative differences in maxillary stability after Le Fort I osteotomy and fixation with an unsintered hydroxyapatite (u-HA)/poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) plate with or without self-setting α-tricalcium phosphate (Biopex^®) as interpositional material. Subjects comprised 45 patients diagnosed with mandibular prognathism with maxillary retrognathism and mandibular prognathism with bimaxillary asymmetry. All patients underwent Le Fort I osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy with fixation by uHA/PLLA plates. Patients were divided into 4 groups consisting of 9 maxillary impaction cases with Biopex^® (group 1) to fill the gap between the bone segments, 14 maxillary advancement cases with Biopex^® (group 2), 8 maxillary impaction cases without Biopex^® (group 3) and 14 maxillary advancement cases without Biopex^® (group 4). Changes in cepahalometric parameters at time intervals (1, 3 and 12 months) between the groups were compared. Results showed that stability did not depend on the use or otherwise of Biopex^®.