Maxillary stability after Le Fort I osteotomy using three different plate systems

The purpose of this study was to compare postoperative changes in maxillary stability after Le Fort I osteotomy in three groups: with an unsintered hydroxyapatite (u-HA)/poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) plate; a PLLA plate; and a titanium plate. Subjects comprised 60 Japanese patients diagnosed with mandibular prognathism. All patients underwent Le Fort I osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy. All patients were randomized in groups of 20 to a u-HA/PLLA group, a PLLA plate group and a titanium plate group. Changes in postoperative time intervals between the plate groups were compared using lateral and posteroanterior cephalography. The uHA/PLLA group had significantly larger values than the PLLA group regarding change of mx1-S perpendicular to SN between 3 and 12 months (T3) (P=0.0269). The uHA/PLLA group had a significantly larger value than the PLLA group regarding change of S-A perpendicular to SN between baseline and 1 month (T1) (P=0.0257). There was no significant difference in the other measurements. This study suggests that maxillary stability with satisfactory results could be obtained in the u-HA/PLLA, PLLA plate and titanium plate groups, although there was a slight difference between the u-HA/PLLA and PLLA plate systems in Le Fort I osteotomy.