Predictability of maxillary surgery: a comparison of internal and external reference marks

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthognathic Surgery
• Surgical Navigation

Background:

• Traditional internal reference lines are used for maxillary surgical planning.
• Limitations exist in the accuracy of internal reference lines for precise maxillary positioning.
• An external reference point offers a potential alternative for enhanced surgical accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the predictability of maxillary positioning using internal reference lines versus an external reference point in Le Fort I osteotomies.
• To evaluate the accuracy of the external reference point method in guiding surgical outcomes.
• To determine if the external reference point offers superior predictability over internal reference lines.

Main Methods:

• Two groups of patients undergoing Le Fort I maxillary osteotomies were compared.
• One group utilized internal reference lines for surgical correlation.
• The second group employed an external reference point for maxillary positioning.

Main Results:

• The group using the external reference point demonstrated significantly more accurate prediction of the maxillary central incisor position.
• Accuracy was improved on both the x and y coordinates (p < 0.01) with the external reference point.
• Internal reference lines resulted in less predictable positioning outcomes.

Conclusions:

• An external reference point provides superior predictability for maxillary positioning in Le Fort I osteotomies compared to internal reference lines.
• This method enhances surgical accuracy and patient outcomes in orthognathic surgery.
• The external reference point is a valuable tool for precise maxillary repositioning.