Surgical maxillary expansion: a new minimally invasive technique.

Servizio di Chirurgia Plastica Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.

This paper describes the author's surgical maxillary expansion technique using a 2 mm osteotome. The use of this osteotome avoids the classical mucoperiosteal incision, thus a less traumatic and invasive procedure is performed. From 1992 to 1995, 24 surgical osteotomy cases were performed using this minimally invasive technique. Successful maxillary expansion was obtained in 23 cases. If the minimally invasive technique is unsuccessful, it can be converted into a traditional technique procedure during surgery, thus neither an anatomical nor a technical compromise will be required. Both the past and present literature concerning various theories as to which suture line is primarily involved in producing resistance against maxillary expansion is reviewed. From his personal experience, the author has seen that the maxillary midline suture does not play a primary role in permitting maxillary expansion but instead he found the zygomatic-maxillary and pterygoid-palatine sutures to be of primary importance.

PMID: 9174889 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]