Nasolabial changes after two different approaches for surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion

Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion: current concepts of minimally invasive approaches

Studies have consistently shown an association of the Le Fort I osteotomy with undesirable adverse events in the nasolabial region, including lengthening and thinning of the upper lip, a reduction in upper vermilion exposure, and nasal base enlargement. Various minimally invasive techniques have been developed based on knowledge collected over recent decades on the aetiopathogenesis of these aesthetic impairments. The common scope of these techniques is to reduce the damage to the facial soft tissues and achieve a sound and spontaneous healing process, avoiding those procedures that are commonly used to counteract undesirable aesthetic changes. This paper provides a summary of the aetiopathogenesis of these adverse events, as well as an overview of current concepts in minimally invasive surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (miSARME).

Can different osteotomies have an influence on surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion? A systematic review

The purpose of this study was to systematically review the randomized and non-randomized clinical trials (RCT; nRCT) concerning the different available osteotomies for surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME): pterygomaxillary disjunction (SARME + PD vs SARME-PD) and segmental Le Fort I osteotomy (2-piece vs 3-piece). Outcomes focused on skeletal, dental, upper airway changes, complications, and relapse. Two authors investigated five databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science) until August 2023. The Cochrane Collaboration Tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale were used for the quality assessment of the included RCTs and nRCTs, respectively. A total of 554 articles were retrieved and after duplicates removing and full-text reading, 40 studies were included. Two RCTs showed a low risk of bias, one an unclear risk and one a high risk. Among the non-RCTs, 15 studies showed a good quality, while 21 exhibited a fair quality score. SARME + PD resulted in more homogeneous posterior bone expansion, with minimal dental effects. No difference between 2-piece and 3-piece in asymmetric expansion was observed, although 3SO showed 1-2 mm of more transverse increase. The oropharynx minimum cross-sectional area, the nasopharynx and the oropharynx volume were greater in SARME + PD. Both dental and bone relapse can occur but no differences between the groups were observed. All osteotomies guaranteed a correction of transverse maxillary deficiency. Lower side effects were described in SARME + PD. Two-piece and 3-piece segmental Le Fort I osteotomies did not show any differences in the symmetry and amount of expansion.

What is the impact of miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion on the midfacial soft tissues? A prospective three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the midfacial soft tissue changes of the face in patients treated with miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3D facial images and intra-oral scans (IOS) were obtained before expansion (T0), immediately after completion of expansion (T1), and 1 year after expansion (T2). The 3D images were superimposed and two 3D distance maps were generated to measure the midfacial soft tissue changes: immediate effects between timepoints T0 and T1 and overall effects between T0 and T2. Changes of the alar width were also measured and dental expansion was measured as the interpremolar width (IPW) on IOS.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients (22 women, 7 men, mean age 25.9 years) were enrolled. The soft tissue in the regions of the nose, left of philtrum, right of philtrum, and upper lip tubercle demonstrated a statistically significant anterior movement of 0.30 mm, 0.93 mm, 0.74 mm, and 0.81 mm, respectively (p < 0.01) immediately after expansion (T0-T1). These changes persisted as an overall effect (T0-T2). The alar width initially increased by 1.59 mm, and then decreased by 0.08 mm after 1 year, but this effect was not significant. The IPW increased by 4.58 mm and remained stable 1 year later. There was no significant correlation between the increase in IPW and alar width (r = 0.35, p = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that MARPE results in significant but small changes of the soft tissue in the peri-oral and nasal regions. However, the clinical importance of these findings is limited.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

MARPE is an effective treatment modality to expand the maxilla, incurring only minimal and clinically insignificant changes to the midfacial soft tissues.

Nasal Septal Deviation After Surgically Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion

Background and Aim

Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) is a surgical technique widely used to correct deficiency of the transverse maxillary dimension. Although some studies investigated the effect of SARME on nasal and facial alterations, there is no evidence that correlates nasal septal deviation (NSD) to SARME as a possible postoperative sequel. The aim of this study is to address and quantify possible variations in the position of the nasal bony septum after SARME and identify any NSD as a postoperative outcome of this surgical technique.

Patients and Methods

This is a retrospective study, conducted at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the University Hospital of Araraquara (Unesp, faculty of dentistry), SP, Brazil. Twenty-nine patients who underwent SARME were studied; every patient was evaluated by cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) before (T0) and six months after surgery (T1), and we collected the variation of nasal septal position by measuring the distance between the bony septum and the nasal lateral wall. Our measurements were carried out at the level of the head, midpoint and tail of the inferior turbinate.

Results

A mean NSD ranging from 0.4 to 1.2 mm was measured, and it is more pronounced at the anterior part of the bony septum. Twenty-seven patients (93.1%) presented minor changes in bony septum position; in 2 cases (6.8%), a significant NSD was found (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

A variation of bony nasal septum position can be expected in any direction after SARME, and it is more pronounced at anterior portion.

An evaluation of three-dimensional facial changes after surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME): an observational study

BACKGROUND

The abnormal facial features in maxillary transverse deficiency (MTD) are minimal and limited to a deficiency of the middle facial third, narrow nares and nasal base, and deepened nasolabial folds. The surgical expansion of the narrow maxilla has most obvious effects on widening of the maxillary dental arch and expansion of the maxillary and palatal structures in the transverse plane, however sagittal changes also occurs. The purpose of this observational study was to evaluate the three-dimensional (3D) facial soft tissue changes following surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME).

METHODS

In 15 skeletally mature patients with severe maxillary transverse deficiency, the planned maxillary expansion (on average 8.8 mm ± 2.3 mm) was achieved with a bone-borne palatal distractor. The 3D optical scans of the facial surface were obtained before and six months after SARME. In the first part, we defined different anatomical landmarks on both scans and compared cephalometric measurements. In the second part, we registered both 3D scans in the same workplace using the regional best-fit method (forehead, supraorbital and nasal root regions were selected for the superimposition) and conducted surface analysis.

RESULTS

The largest differences between the pre- and post-operation scans were observed in the paranasal and cheek area (1.4 ± 1.0 mm). Significant differences occurred for an increased nasal width, a decreased upper-face height with an unchanged lower height, an increased vertical philtrum height and an increased nasolabial angle. A significant increase in the facial profile angle was also observed, resulting in an increased facial convexity and anterior displacement of the upper-lip area.

CONCLUSIONS

The widening of the nose and increased projection in the cheek and paranasal area in the lateral direction after maxillary expansion were confirmed; moreover, facial convexity increases, reflecting the underlying advancement of the maxilla.

The effect of subspinal Le Fort 1 corticotomy on nasal morphology in surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the influence of subspinal Le Fort 1 corticotomy (SLF1C) on nasal morphology in patients treated with surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) using three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetry images. A total of 64 patients were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups according to the surgical approach that was used: in group 1 (n = 32) SARPE was performed using a conventional Le Fort 1 corticotomy (CLF1C), and in group 2 (n = 32) SARPE was performed using a subspinal Le Fort 1 corticotomy (SLF1C). Measurements of alar and columellar width, and nasolabial angle were taken on 3D stereophotogrammetry images before and after SARPE using Vectra 3D camera system. Both surgical groups showed a statistically significant increase in alar and columellar width, and nasolabial angle postoperatively (p<0.05). SLF1C resulted in significantly smaller changes of the columellar base postoperatively (p=0.0456). The datasuggests that SARPE with an osteotomy of the anterior nasal spine as an additional step to the conventional Le Fort 1 corticotomy results in a smaller increase of the columellar base.

Nasomaxillary effects of miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion and two surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion approaches

This retrospective study was performed to evaluate nasomaxillary changes in 36 patients at an advanced stage of skeletal maturity who underwent miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) or surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) with/without an alar base cinch. Cone beam computed tomography images taken before and after expansion were analysed. Changes in the width of the dental arch (D66S, D66I), maxillary base (MxMol), and nasal floor and nasal cavity in the molar and canine regions (NaFMol, NaFCan, NaCMol, NaCCan) were compared, as well as changes in the choanal aperture (CA) and nasal soft tissue (NW). The MARPE technique produced smaller dental changes (D66S; P=0.025) and greater nasomaxillary expansion (MxMol, P=0.010; NaCMol, P=0.016; NaCCan, P=0.017; NaFMol, P=0.001; CA, P=0.002) than both SARPE techniques. Changes in NW did not differ significantly between the groups (P=0.200). MARPE uniformly increased the anterior and posterior widths of the nasal cavity. SARPE expanded the nasal cavity in a 'V-shape' pattern. Changes in the nasal cavity and choanal aperture related to the amount of dental arch expansion were greater for MARPE than for SARPE. All three approaches increased the width of the nasal soft tissue, although the cinch in SARPE limited this increase.

Tunnel technique through three vertical buccal incisions to reduce nasolabial changes due to surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion

The aim of this technical note is to present a minimally invasive approach to the maxilla for segmental Le Fort I osteotomy in surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE). This approach reduces the nasolabial changes that occur with the traditional circumvestibular approach.

Nasal soft tissue changes after two different approaches for surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion

The aim of the study was to evaluate the nasal soft tissue changes in patients who underwent surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) using two different surgical approaches. Thirty-two patients were included in the study, and divided into two groups according to the type of surgical approach: in group A (n=17), SARME performed with standard Le Fort I circumvestibular approach with alar base cinch and anterior nasal spine (ANS) exposure; and in group B (n=15) operations were performed with the same standard Le Fort I circumvestibular approach with only alar base cinch. Measurements of height and width of the philtrum, nasal and subnasal width, and columella width were taken from three-dimensional facial images obtained before surgery (T1), after the distraction phase (T2) and 6 months postoperatively (T3). The mean maxillary expansion was 7.3±0.7mm for group A and 7.5±1.5mm for group B, without any significant difference between groups (P=0.59). Both groups presented an increase in all vaules in T2 and T3. The approach used in group A resulted in smaller changes in the columella width. The results of the present study show that there is no need for intraoperative releasing of the soft tissues around the anterior nasal spine during SARME if columella width is sufficient. However, further randomized studies based on large patient groups are needed before final conclusions on this topic can be reached.

Nasal soft- and hard-tissue changes following tooth-borne and hybrid surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion: A randomized clinical cone-beam computed tomography study

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of tooth/bone-borne (hybrid) and tooth-borne (TB) surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) on the width of the nasal soft and hard tissue.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty skeletally mature patients (nine males and 11 females; mean age 19.4 years) with transverse maxillary hypoplasia were randomly assigned to hybrid or TB devices. The patients had undergone SARME operations, performed by the same surgical team using the same procedure (Le Fort I osteotomy with pterygomaxillary dysjunction, midline osteotomy, and no down-fracture). Nasal soft- and hard-tissue changes were analyzed using CBCT preoperatively (T0), at the end of the active expansion phase (T1), and after 6 months of retention (T2). The study was approved by the relevant ethics committee.

RESULTS

The skeletal and soft-tissue nasal parameters increased significantly in the T0-T1 and T0-T2 periods in both groups (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences between the groups were observed. The mean piriform aperture width increased from 1.26 mm in T0-T1 to 0.97 mm in T1-T2 and 2.17 mm in T0-T2 (P < 0.008). In the soft tissue, the alar base width increased to 2.78 mm and the alar width to 2.95 mm in T0-T2 (P = 0.001). There was a positive correlation (63.6%) between the changes in skeletal and soft-tissue values.

CONCLUSION

The hybrid and TB devices led to similarly significant widening effects in nasal soft and hard tissues in both the short term and 6 months after SARME.