Delayed Bleeding of Sphenopalatine Artery as a Complication in Le Fort I Osteotomy

Rates of severe complications in orthognathic surgery are low, but when they occur they can be fatal. This article reports a case of laceration of the junction of the posterior lateral nasal artery and the sphenopalatine artery, resulting in severe delayed bleeding. Patient undergoes a multiple segment Le Fort I osteotomy with no intraoperative or immediate postoperative complications. On the fourth postoperative day, he presents with epistaxis and intractable postnasal discharge, is admitted to emergency with signs of shock, and bleeding is detected endoscopically originating from the right sphenopalatine artery, which is treated with diathermocoagulation. The advantage of endoscopy in difficult areas is that bleeding complications can be solved with low morbidity.