BLOOD-SUPPLY OF THE LE-FORT-I MAXILLARY SEGMENT - AN ANATOMIC STUDY

The vascular supply of the Le Fort I osteotomy segment was studied by utilizing standard latex injection techniques. Anatomic dissections in 10 fresh cadavers demonstrated interruption of the descending palatin e arteries with preservation of the ascending palatine branch of the f acial artery and the anterior branch of the ascending pharyngeal arter y within the attached posterior palatal soft-tissue pedicle in all spe cimens following Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy. These ascending arteri al branches entered the soft palate at a position approximately 1 cm p osterior to the pterygomaxillary junction, which was disrupted during the Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy. Separate ink injections of total ma xillary osteotomy segments confirmed vascular perfusion of the ipsilat eral hemimaxillary segment by the ascending palatine artery. Thus vasc ular supply of the mobilized Le Fort I maxillary segment is by means o f the ascending palatine branch of the facial artery and the anterior branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery in addition to the rich muco sal alveolar anastomotic network overlying the maxilla.