Does the anatomy around the pterygomaxillary suture contribute to the risk of bad fractures in Le Fort I osteotomy?

Le Fort I (LF1) osteotomy, a common orthognathic procedure for the maxilla aimed at achieving maxillary mobility by separating the pterygomaxillary suture, poses a risk of bad fracture that may lead to complications and inadequate mobility. Our study analyzed two- and three-dimensional computed tomography images to identify the anatomical factors associated with bad fractures due to an LF1 osteotomy.

Point ‘a’ is where the lateral pterygomaxillary suture on the axial image aligns with the zygomatic alveolar line near the line used for an LF1 osteotomy, with the base line connecting the bilateral ‘a’ points.Two risk factors were identified on the pterygoid side: (i) when the distance from point ‘a’ to the intersection of the base line and the medial pterygoid plate was <6.0 mm; and (ii) when the distance from the piriform aperture margin to the base line was <44.78 mm. Six risk factors were identified on the maxillary side, including the distance between the most anterior and most lateral points of the internal surface of the maxillary sinus being <31.9 mm. Our analyses revealed that fractures that occur during pterygomaxillary suture separation in an LF1 osteotomy are influenced by anatomical factors of the maxilla and pterygoid process, which form the pterygomaxillary suture.