Passive repositioning of maxillary fractures: an occasional impossibility without osteotomy.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To present cases where passive repositioning of maxillary fractures was not achievable during surgery, and a method to provide passive occlusal positioning in those cases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Over a 10-year period, the maxillae of 24 patients with fractures of the maxilla could not be passively repositioned during surgery. In these cases, a Le Fort I osteotomy was performed in addition to reduction and fixation of the other midfacial fractures.

RESULTS:

All patients had passive restoration of their pretrauma occlusion during surgery. All patients except 1 had maintenance of their pretrauma occlusion at the last follow-up visit (6 weeks or more) following surgery.

CONCLUSION:

When passive positioning of the maxilla is not possible, a concomitant Le Fort I osteotomy can provide passive positioning of the occlusion.

• Authors: Edward Ellis
• Journal: Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (J Oral Maxillofac Surg) Vol. 62 Issue 12 Pg. 1477-85 (Dec 2004) ISSN: 0278-2391 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15573347 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Follow-Up Studies
• Fracture Fixation, Internal (methods)
• Humans
• Jaw Fixation Techniques
• Malocclusion (etiology, prevention & control)
• Maxillary Fractures (complications, surgery)
• Osteotomy, Le Fort (methods)
• Plastic Surgery Procedures (methods)
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome