Effect of Le Fort I osteotomy on the sinonasal region: three-dimensional study

Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate changes in the maxillary sinus and nasal cavity in patients submitted to Le Fort I osteotomy using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). Methods A retrospective study was conducted involving the analysis of preoperative (T1) and postoperative (T2) CBCT scans of 34 patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. The outcome variables were sinus and nasal cavity volumes, presence and patency of the maxillary ostium, sinus mucosal thickening, nasal septal deviation, and changes in sinonasal anatomy. The paired-sample t-test and Wilcoxon test were used to compare differences between T1 and T2, with the significance level set at 5% (p < 0.05). Results Age ranged from 18 to 55 years (mean: 29.97 ± 9.85). Most patients were women (64.7%) and had a type III facial profile (52.9%). Statistically significant differences were found between T1 and T2 in the mean volume of the maxillary sinus (p = 0.001) and nasal cavity (p = 0.042) and the degree of mucosal thickening of the maxillary sinuses (p = 0.013; p = 0.046). Conclusion Le Fort I osteotomy is associated with significant changes in the volume of the maxillary sinus and nasal cavity as well as thickening of the sinus mucosa. Level of evidence 4.