The long-term stability of LeFort I maxillary downgrafts with rigid fixation to correct vertical maxillary deficiency

This study evaluated the long-term stability of LeFort I maxillary downgrafts with rigid fixation in 28 patients with vertical maxillary deficiency. Preorthodontic, presurgical, immediate postsurgical, and an average of 16 months postsurgical cephalometric radiographs were evaluated. The results indicated that overall vertical maxillary stability after downgraft was good with 80% of the cases showing superior relapse of 2 mm or less. The mean amount of postoperative relapse represented 28% of the surgical downgraft. No correlation was found between the amount of the maxillary downgraft and the subsequent postsurgical vertical stability of the maxilla. No difference was found in the vertical stability of the maxilla comparing one-jaw and two-jaw procedures. It was also found that there was no difference in the vertical stability of the maxilla between single-segment and multiple-segment maxillary procedures, and also when comparing standard and high LeFort I osteotomy techniques. In addition, occlusal plane rotation of surgery, as well as the type of presurgical orthodontic movement, were both found to have no influence on postoperative stability of the maxilla.