Le Fort I osteotomy with interpositional bone grafts and implants for rehabilitation of the severely resorbed maxilla: a 2-stage procedure

A surgical procedure for the rehabilitation of severely resorbed maxillae is described. Twenty-five patients, made up of a development group of 5 and a routine group of 20, were treated with Le Fort I osteotomy using interpositional bone grafts from the iliac crest and, in a second stage, titanium implants. Altogether, 181 Brånemark implants were placed, and the patients were followed for up to 5 years. The implant survival rate for the development group was 60.0% after 5 years. Life table analysis for the routine group showed a 5-year survival rate of 85.6%. Twenty-two patients received fixed prostheses and 2 received overdentures. One patient lost all implants and was rehabilitated with a prong denture.