POSTOPERATIVE COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY SCAN STUDY OF THE PTERYGOMAXILLARY SEPARATION DURING THE LE-FORT-I OSTEOTOMY USING A MICRO-OSCILLATING SAW

Purpose: The objective of the study was to evaluate the type of pteryg omaxillary separation that occurs with use of a micro-oscillating saw. Patients and Methods: Sixteen patients underwent a postoperative comp uted tomography scan, Results: Ideal or near-ideal separations occurre d on 26 of 32 sides (81%), while low-level fractures occurred in 6 of 32 sides (19%). No high-level fractures of the pterygoid plates, or fr actures extending to the base of the skull or orbit, were seen, There was a striking difference in the number of ideal separations on the ri ght-hand side (94%), compared with the left-hand side (50%), probably because of the greater difficulty of a right-handed surgeon positionin g the saw blade correctly on the left side without bending the thin fl exible saw blade backward. Conclusion, In view of the high percentage of ideal pterygomaxillary separations achieved using a micro-oscillati ng saw, and the absence of high-level pterygoid plate fractures extend ing to the base of the skull, this technique is recommended for the pt erygomaxillary dysjunction.