title: [The anatomy of the pterygopalatine canal in relation to the Le Fort I osteotomy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The most common site of hemorrhage in maxillary osteotomies is the posterior maxilla. Better understanding of the anatomy in this region may minimize possible vascular complications. The aim of the study is to investigate the anatomy of posterior maxilla and establish safety guidelines for the Le Fort I osteotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty dry human skulls were selected for direct measurement and analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that the average distance from the piriform rim to the descending palatine canal was 35.25 mm, the average distance from the zygo-alveolar ridge to the descending palatine canal was 25.41 mm, the average distance from the descending palatine canal to the central line was 16.68 mm, the average distance from the piriform rim to the central line was 12.87 mm. The angle between the line from the piriform rim to the descending palatine canal and the central line was 6 degrees 14'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study is to provide further understanding of the posterior maxillary anatomy in relation to the bone cut design of Le Fort I osteotomy, and to create clinical safety guidelines in order to avoid damaging the descending palatine vessels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Shenyang Military General Hospital, Shenyang 110015, China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008439:Maxillary Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods*