title: The effect of the subspinal Le Fort I-type osteotomy on interalar rim width.
abstract: The postoperative increase in interalar rim width was measured in two groups undergoing Le Fort I impaction or advancement. In the control group, 19 patients with a conventional osteotomy, an absorbable alar cinch suture, and V-Y closure were followed for 20 months on average. In the experimental group, 12 patients with a "subspinal" Le Fort I osteotomy (without alar cinch or V-Y closure) were followed for 15 months on average. Interalar rim width was measured with a slide gauge preoperatively, at several times during surgery, and at the 6-month and late follow-up appointments. At surgery, the alar cinch suture decreased the interalar rim width by 50% in the control group. Still, after extubation, there was no statistical difference between groups. At the 6-month follow-up measurement, the interalar rim width was significantly (1.92 mm) smaller in the subspinal group. At the late follow-up, this difference had decreased by a mean of 0.61 mm.
authors.affiliation: General Hospital St. John, Bruges, Belgium.
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Mommaerts
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Abeloos
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: De Clercq
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Neyt
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D009666:Nose / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques