TOPOGRAPHY AND MORPHOMETRY OF THE STRUCTURES OF THE PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA IN KOREANS

ABSTRACT

Maxillary osteotomy(LeFort I, II, III) is a commonly performed maxillary surgical procedure for the correction of dentofacial deformities. Maxillary osteotomy necessitate seperation of the skeleton of the middle third of the face from its posterior attachments to the cranium. With conventional techniques, an osteotome is placed between the maxilla and pterygoid plates and tapped medially and anteriorly to separate the pterygomaxillary junction. To separate the pterygomaxillary junction safely, knowledge on the anatomical structures of the pterygopalatine fossa area is very important to surgeons. So, to clarify the anatomical structures as it relates to the surgical approach of the pterygomaxillary junction area, Korean skulls (male 110 sides, female 44 sides) were used. And 30 sides of Korean hemisectioned heads were dissected to study about the anatomical and surgical structures of the pterygopalatine fossa area. Suggestions are given regarding the prevention of the complication during the maxillary osteotomy. Results of the studies indicate that with regard to the course of the maxillary artery and the morphology of the pterygomaxillary junction, pterygomaxillary dysjunction would be safely done with pterygomaxillary osteotome of 15mm width in Koreans. And osteotomy should be angled inferiorly from the zygomaticomaxillary crest. This will minimize the risk of the damaging the pterygopalatine fossa area because the mean distance form the inferior border of the pterygomaxillary junction to the furcation of the descending palatine artery was 24.8mm.