Skeletal stability after inferior maxillary repositioning without interpositional graft

Abstract True vertical maxillary deficiency is a characteristic of short face syndrome. In these patients, inferior repositioning of the maxilla (IRM) is indicated to improve facial aesthetics and function, but this procedure has been described as the most unstable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long term, post surgical stability of IRM, fixed with four 2.0 mm L-shaped miniplates, without any type of graft. A cephalometric study was performed, analysing linear measurements (anterior nasal spine, the A point, top of the incisor, top of the buccal-mesial cusp of the first molar, and posterior nasal spine on an X – Y coordinate system) traced immediately preoperatively, immediately postoperatively and at least 6 months post operatively. Eight young adult patients who underwent IRM were studied. The average results of this study were: surgical movement of 4.65 mm at I point, 5.32 mm at anterior nasal spine (ANS) point, and 4.70 mm at A point and relapses of 1.60 mm (35%), 2.23 mm (43%) and 2.10 mm (46%), respectively. It was concluded, that IRM using this type of internal rigid fixation without graft is unstable.