Changes after correction of maxillary retrusion by Le Fort I osteotomy. A comparison of 2 methods of skeletal fixation.

2 methods of skeletal fixation are compared in 24 patients with maxillary retrusion treated with Le Fort I osteotomy only: group I, intraosseous fixation only (10 patients); group II, enhanced fixation, intraosseous and suspension wires (14 patients). Follow-up checks on the patients were carried out using lateral cephalograms. The changes of the maxillary position in relation to the anterior cranial base were analyzed via a technique of superimposition in a computer system without using conventional landmarks. Vertical and horizontal changes and rotations were studied. The method error was small. In the vertical direction, there was a significant difference between the groups. In group I, the vertical relapse during the early postoperative period was 55%, while in group II, it was only 15%. The conclusion is that a rigid vertical fixation is needed.