[Transposition osteotomy of the upper jaws and immobilization with cranial fixation devices]

Retrognathia in a patient who has undergone surgery for correction of a cleft palate constitutes a specific indication for transposition osteotomy of the upper jaw. A satisfactory operative technique is described in which as much as possible of the posterior part of the hard palate is retained. The operation is followed by immobilization of the upper jaw with a halo. The results of follow-up examination of 9 patients who had been operated on between 1975 and mid-1977 are described in detail. They revealed a pronounced tendency to postoperative recurrence of the deformity and showed the importance of postoperative retention in preventing recurrence. The topics discussed also include the timing of the operation, of the postoperative retention, the fitting of dentures, and of subsequent plastic surgery.