title: Surgical correction of septal deviation after Le Fort I osteotomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Le Fort I osteotomy is one of the most widely used and useful procedure to correct the dentofacial deformities of the midface. The changes of the maxilla position affect to overlying soft tissue including the nasal structure. Postoperative nasal septum deviation is a rare and unpredicted outcome after the surgery. There are only a few reports reporting the management of this complication.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our department, three cases of the postoperative nasal septum deviation after the Le Fort I osteotomy had been experienced. Via limited intraoral circumvestibular incision, anterior maxilla, the nasal floor, and the anterior aspect of the septum were exposed. The cartilaginous part of the nasal septum was resected and repositioned to the midline and the anterior nasal spine was recontoured. Alar cinch suture performed again to prevent the sides of nostrils from flaring outwards. After the procedure, nasal septum deviation was corrected and the esthetic outcomes were favorable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Careful extubation, intraoperative management of nasal septum, and meticulous examination of pre-existing nasal septum deviation is important to avoid postoperative nasal septum deviation. If it existed after the maxillary osteotomy, septum repositioning technique of the current report can successfully correct the postoperative septal deviation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Dong-San Medical Center, Keimyung University, 194, Dong-San Dong, Jung Gu, Taegu City, 700-712 South Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Center for Orthognathic surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Samduck 2 Ga, Jung Gu, Daegu, 700-421 South Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Tak
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Center for Orthognathic surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Samduck 2 Ga, Jung Gu, Daegu, 700-421 South Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Geon
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kwon
keywords: Le Fort I; Nasal septum; Osteotomy