Morbidity related to "endo-corticotomies" for transpalatal osteodistraction.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to evaluate morbidity arising from transnasal, endoscopically assisted corticotomies for transpalatal osteodistraction. This minimally invasive technique utilizes three 1-cm incisions in the nasal vestibule instead of the classical, two lateral and one medial oral vestibule incisions of 2-3 cm and 1cm long, respectively.


METHODS
Fifty-nine patients (33 females and 26 males; age range: 9-50 years, mean 20 years) who underwent surgery in the hub hospital by the senior surgeon were included in a prospective registry. Patients with congenital maxillary hypoplasia were excluded. Difficulties were systematically recorded.


RESULTS
Mean operative time was 68 min (SD: 15 min) when no other procedures were combined with the transpalatal osteodistraction. Ten difficulties unrelated to either the device or oral hygiene were encountered: rhinorrhoea and minor nasal obstruction (1), nasal bleeding with hospital admission (1), periostitis at the piriform aperture that necessitated revision using local anaesthesia (1), periostitis with spontaneous healing (1), postoperative pain (2), dermatitis (1), infraorbital ecchymosis (1), excessive postoperative oedema (1), and prolonged cheek hyperaesthesia (1).


CONCLUSIONS
Operative time as well as both percentage and nature of complications was similar to those experienced with "open-sky TPD" (transpalatal distraction), with less pronounced oedema and patient surgical threshold decreased.
Mommaerts
Maurice Y
MY
Division of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, General Hospital St. Jan, Bruges, Belgium. maurice.mommaerts@azbrugge.be
Collado
Javier
J
Mareque Bueno
Javier
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004438:Ecchymosis / Q000209:etiology; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000601:surgery*; D010522:Periostitis / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies