EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY OF THE SAFETY OF SIMULTANEOUS NASAL AND LE-FORT-I OSTEOTOMIES

Purpose: This study evaluated the risk of unfavorable fractures extend ing to adjacent structures from nasal osteotomies during simultaneous rhinoplasty and Le Fort I osteotomy, Materials and Methods: Sixteen na sal osteotomies (medial and lateral) were performed in conjunction wit h Le Fort I osteotomy on eight fresh cadaver heads, Skin and soft tiss ue of the face were removed and the patterns of fracture along the nas al bones and the presence of unfavorable fractures extending from the nasal osteotomies toward the orbit, skull base, and the maxillary oste otomy site were assessed, Results: All 16 nasal osteotomies were succe ssfully performed with a single pass of the osteotome, The nasal bones were easily mobilized in every instance. There were 11 (69%) complete fractures and five (31%) greenstick fractures at the superior aspect of the nasal bones, There were no unfavorable fractures extending from the nasal fracture sites toward the skull base, orbit, or the maxilla ry osteotomy site, Conclusion: Simultaneous Le Fort I osteotomy and na sal osteotomies can be performed without significant risk of unfavorab le fractures or extension of the fracture lines to adjacent structures .