Nasal airway changes after Le Fort I--impaction and advancement: anatomical and functional findings

Twenty patients were studied prospectively to assess intranasal anatomical changes and functional changes resulting from a one-piece Le Fort I-osteotomy with anterior and superior positioning of the maxilla. Presurgical and 3 months postsurgical rhinological inspection, anterior rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry were performed. Interalar width was measured and cephalograms were used to assess maxillary movement. Rhinoscopically, three septal perforations (15%) were noticed. Turbinate enlargement was less common postoperatively. Interalar width increased significantly. These findings correlate with a significant increase in cross-sectional diameter at the Isthmus nasi revealed by acoustic rhinometry 3 months postoperatively. The mean total nasal airflow measured by anterior rhinomanometry was unchanged indicating no increase in resistance despite decreased intranasal dimensions in cases where the impaction is not higher than 5 mm.