title: Effects of surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion on nasal dimensions using acoustic rhinometry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) on nasal dimensions using acoustic rhinometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients ranging in age from 18 to 53 years were evaluated as having a maxillary transverse deficiency larger than 7 mm, a bilateral cross-bite, and no evidence of nasal obstruction. All patients underwent evaluation of the nasal cavity by acoustic rhinometry both before and 6 months after SARME. The Wilcoxon test was used to evaluate minor cross-sectional areas (MCA) and the nasal volume of the right and left nasal cavities, and these parameters were measured with and without the application of topical nasal decongestant before and after SARME.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with preoperative measurements, minor cross-sectional areas and nasal volumes were significantly larger after SARME. There was a statistically significant difference associated with the use of nasal decongestant; the minor cross-sectional areas and nasal volume of the right and left nasal cavities were smaller when nasal decongestants were not used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion increases the minor cross-sectional areas and volume of the nasal cavities. Acoustic rhinometry is an objective method for evaluating the geometry of the nasal cavity in patients with transverse maxillary deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio Takeji
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Mitsuda
authors.forename: Max Domingues
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Alexandre Piassi
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Passos
authors.forename: Claudia Toyama
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Hino
authors.forename: Lydia Masako
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000601:surgery*; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014663:Nasal Decongestants