Resorptive remodeling in maxillary anterior region after bimaxillary surgery for skeletal Class III deformities

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate bony remodelling in the anterior region of the maxilla after bimaxillary surgery for skeletal Class III deformities preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and 6 months postoperatively. For accurate analysis, cone-beam computed tomographic (CT) images of 29 patients (12 men and 17 women; mean age 22 (range 19 to 44) years) were used. The nasopalatine canal, unaffected by the maxillary Le Fort I osteotomy, was used for the reference points (posterosuperior, midpoint, and posteroinferior). The changes in the distance from each of the points on the nasopalatine canal to the corresponding anterior border of the maxilla were measured and analysed at the 3 stages (p<0.05). Bony resorption was apparent during the postoperative period, and the mean resorption was -1.13 (1.53) mm at the posterosuperior level, -0.92 (0.83) mm at the midpoint, and -0.83 (0.88) mm at the posteroinferior level (p<0.01). These findings show that there had been resorptive remodelling postoperatively in the anterior maxillary region after bimaxillary surgery with superior maxillary movement, which suggests that the postoperative change in the position of point A is affected by operative movement as well as by postoperative relapse and bony remodelling.