Passive repositioning of maxillary fractures: an occasional impossibility without osteotomy.
OBJECTIVE
To present cases where passive repositioning of maxillary fractures was not achievable during surgery, and a method to provide passive occlusal positioning in those cases.


METHODS
Over a 10-year period, the maxillae of 24 patients with fractures of the maxilla could not be passively repositioned during surgery. In these cases, a Le Fort I osteotomy was performed in addition to reduction and fixation of the other midfacial fractures.


RESULTS
All patients had passive restoration of their pretrauma occlusion during surgery. All patients except 1 had maintenance of their pretrauma occlusion at the last follow-up visit (6 weeks or more) following surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
When passive positioning of the maxilla is not possible, a concomitant Le Fort I osteotomy can provide passive positioning of the occlusion.
Ellis
Edward
E
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9109, USA. edward.ellis@utsouthwestern.edu
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome