Early skeletal, nasal, and soft tissue changes after surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion: a retrospective cephalometric study

Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) is a treatment method used to correct maxillary transversal deficiencies in individuals who have completed their growth and development. The purpose of this study was to evaluate skeletal, soft tissue, and nasal septum changes associated with maxillary movements after SARME using conventional radiographic analysis. A total of 35 patients (24 females and 11 males) who underwent SARME surgery were evaluated. Posteroanterior and lateral cephalometric radiographs taken before surgery (T0) and at least three months after surgery (T1) were examined. Changes in maxillary position, nasal cavity parameters, nasal septum deviation, and maxillomandibular measurements were assessed. Changes after treatment were statistically analyzed using paired sample t-tests. Nasal septum deviation and nasal height did not show statistically significant changes between T0 and T1. A significant increase in lateral nasal width was observed after surgery (p < .05). No significant differences were found in upper lip to E-plane distance or nasolabial angle measurements. Significant increases were observed in SNA and SN-GoGn angles, while a significant decrease was found in the U1-SN angle (p < .05). SARME was associated with a significant increase in nasal lateral width and changes in skeletal parameters, including increases in SNA and SN-GoGn angles and a decrease in U1-SN angle, during the early postoperative period.