Stability of Le Fort I Osteotomy With Propeller Graft for Canting Correction in Facial Asymmetry.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the maxillary stability in patients who had undergone Le Fort I osteotomy with propeller graft and mandibular sagittal split ramus osteotomy for correction of maxillary asymmetry. This was a retrospective study on 15 facial asymmetry patients (7 men, 8 women: 22.2 years) requiring surgical correction at the preoperative (T0), immediately postoperative (T1) and 6 months after surgery (T2) stages. To evaluate the skeletal stability, computed tomography (CT) superimposition was used, and skeletal landmarks were measured and compared from the superimposed images according to an x, y, z coordinate system. The skeletal changes at each stage (ΔT1-T0 and ΔT2-T1) were compared by paired t-test (P<0.05). The obtained data on the skeletal changes immediately postoperatively to 6-month follow-up (ΔT2-T1) showed that the Le Fort I osteotomy with propeller graft had effected stable maxillary skeletal stability at the maxillary measurement points (posterior nasal spine (PNS ), nasopalatine canal, U3 crown tip, U3 root apex, and U6 furcation). These results suggested that in cases of facial asymmetry where the upper tooth exposure is proper and anterior-posterior movement of the maxilla is not much required, Le Fort I osteotomy with propeller graft is an effective method for stable canting correction.