Surgical-orthodontic correction of transverse maxillary deficiency

A conservative osteotomy of the zygomaticomaxillary buttress in combination with a rapid palatal expansion appliance is a dependable technique for the treatment of horizontal maxillary deficiency in adults. This procedure has been used successfully in 56 patients in our series, but 17 patients (30 per cent) required a midpalatal osteotomy. In two patients, overexpansion was not achieved because of necrosis of the mucosa. In three other patients, expansion had to proceed at a slower pace because of mucosal ulceration. There have been no other complications. The procedure is indicated mainly in those patients with a horizontal deficiency who do not require subsequent surgery, but for some patients it may be the preliminary procedure. Twelve patients (21 per cent) had subsequent orthognathic surgery. Follow-up has been from 1 to 12 years and there has been no relapse. In our opinion, the zygomaticomaxillary buttress is the primary area of resistance to lateral movement of the maxilla by rapid maxillary expansion appliances.