Nasal Septal Deviation After Surgically Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthodontics

Background:

• Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) is a common procedure to correct transverse maxillary deficiency.
• Previous research has explored SARME's effects on facial and nasal structures.
• The potential for nasal septal deviation (NSD) as a postoperative complication of SARME remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and quantify positional variations of the nasal bony septum following SARME.
• To identify the occurrence and characteristics of nasal septal deviation (NSD) as a postoperative outcome of SARME.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 29 patients undergoing SARME.
• Cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) scans taken before (T0) and six months after (T1) surgery.
• Measurement of the distance between the bony septum and nasal lateral walls at inferior turbinate levels (head, midpoint, tail).

Main Results:

• A mean NSD ranging from 0.4 to 1.2 mm was observed, more pronounced in the anterior septum.
• Minor bony septum position changes occurred in 93.1% of patients.
• Significant NSD was identified in 6.8% of cases (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Positional variations in the bony nasal septum are an expected outcome after SARME.
• These variations are most noticeable in the anterior portion of the nasal septum.