An Evaluation of Initial Stability after Maxillary Posterior Impaction

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was designed to retrospectively evaluate the postsurgical initial stability of the Le Fort I osteotomy with posterior impaction and rigid internal fixation for the correction of mandibular prognathism with midface deficiency. Particular attention was paid to the magnitude and direction of the initial postsurgical change.METHODS: 20 healthy patients with mandibular prognathism and midface deficiency participated in this study. All patients underwent Le Fort I osteotomy with posterior impaction and mandibular setback BSSO by one surgeon. Preoperative (T0), immediate postoperative (T1) and follow-up period (T2) cephalograms were taken and analyzed. Change between T0~T1 and T1~T2 was measured and analyzed.RESULTS: Between T0~T1, significant differences were observed in all measurements except the ANS point and mandibular plane angle. Between T1~T2, only the occlusal plane angle was significantly changed. No significant changes were found in all other measurements.CONCLUSION: This study indicates that Le Fort I osteotomy with posterior impaction is stable at initial stages. Although changes in the occlusal plane angle were observed, it was caused by tooth movement after post-operative orthodontic treatment. However, more studies with larger samples are required to form definitive conclusions.