QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF NASAL AND UPPER LIP CHANGES AFTER LE FORT I OSTEOTOMY SURGERY USING A 3-DIMENSIONAL COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Objective: To evaluate nasal and upper lip changes after Le Fort I surgery by means of images taken with a three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT). Methods: Fifteen patients (9 female and 6 male, mean age 21.9 years) with preoperative and postoperative 3D-CT were studied. The patients underwent maxillary movement with impaction or elongation, and advancement or setback. With the 3D-CT which presents reconstructive soft tissue images, preoperative and postoperative measurement and analysis were performed for nasal tip projection angle, columellar angle, supratip break angle, nasolabial angle, interalar width, internostril width, columella length and nasal tip projection. Results: Postoperative interalar and internostril widening was significant for all categories of maxillary movement. However, there was little significant relation in all parameters between the amount and direction of maxillary movement. Interestingly, movement of the maxilla with upward did show a little decrease in the columellar angle, supra tip break angle and nasolabial angle. Also movement of the maxilla with forward did show a little advancement in the upper lip position. Conclusion: Changes to the nose clearly occur after orthognathic surgery. There was a significant increase in postoperative interalar width and internostril width with maxillary movement. However, no clear correlation could be determined between amount of change and maxillary movement. Interestingly, maxillary impaction did show a little decrease in the columellar angle, supra tip break angle and nasolabial angle. In addition, we used 3D-CT for more precise analysis as a useful tool.