Prospective study of the incidence of serious posterior maxillary haemorrhage during a tuberosity osteotomy in low level Le Fort I operations

Abstract 

The incidence of serious haemorrhage in Le Fort I osteotomy is low and attempts to reduce this further have led to the development of various techniques to minimise vascular injury. This includes the tuberosity osteotomy and was published over two decades ago. This technique has not been widely adopted as shown by a recent UK survey of consultants, which suggested that only 12 (7%) of the 175 surgeons who responded, routinely use tuberosity osteotomy in non-cleft low level Le Fort I procedures.

The aim of the study was to examine prospectively the incidence of serious haemorrhage from the posterior maxilla during tuberosity osteotomy. We report 35 consecutive patients who have had no operative or postoperative vascular complications.

Keywords: Orthognathic, Le Fort I osteotomy, Pterygomaxillary separation, Tuberosity osteotomy, Posterior maxillary haemorrhage, Descending palatine artery