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Published on: April 21, 2023
Predicting upper lip response to 4-piece maxillary LeFort I osteotomy
B W Brooks1, P H Buschang, J D Bates
1Department of Orthodontics, Baylor College of Dentistry, The Texas A & M University System, USA.
Summary
This study accurately predicts upper lip changes after maxillary Le Fort I advancement/impaction surgery. The findings help anticipate multidimensional morphologic alterations for improved surgical planning and patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Orthognathic surgery
- Maxillofacial surgery
- Cephalometric analysis
Background:
- Segmental maxillary Le Fort I advancement/impaction is a complex procedure.
- Understanding upper lip response is crucial for aesthetic outcomes.
- Predicting soft tissue changes aids surgical planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To predict multidimensional upper lip morphologic changes after 4-piece maxillary Le Fort I advancement/impaction with VY closure and alar base cinch sutures.
- To identify key cephalometric variables influencing upper lip response.
- To develop accurate prediction models for surgical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 57 patients undergoing the specified surgical procedure.
- Longitudinal lateral cephalograms analyzed pre- and post-surgery (mean 15.5 months follow-up).
- Multiple regression models used to predict upper lip landmark movements.
Main Results:
- Upper lip moved anteriorly (50-90% of bone movement) and slightly lengthened.
- Upper lip surface contour straightened.
- Prediction models explained 86-94% of horizontal movement variation with high accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Upper lip response to 4-piece maxillary Le Fort I advancement/impaction is predictable.
- Prediction equations provide reliable estimates of soft tissue changes.
- Accurate prediction enhances surgical planning and patient satisfaction.
