Postoperative nasal airway resistance is correlated with changes in anterior nasal cavity volume following posterior and superior movement caused by Le Fort I osteotomy

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to analyse the relationship between changes in the anterior nasal cavity volume and nasal airway resistance following posterosuperior movement of the maxilla.

Materials and methods

We studied 16 patients (13 female, 3 male) who underwent Le Fort I osteotomy combined with horseshoe osteotomy at Kyushu Dental University Hospital. Rhinomanometry was used to measure nasal airway resistance, and Pro Plan software was used to calculate the anterior nasal cavity volume from computed tomography images taken before and three months after surgery. We analysed the relationship between changes in anterior nasal cavity volume and nasal airway resistance before and three months after surgery. Additionally, we examined the relationship between maxillary superior and posterior movements and nasal airway resistance.

Results

Nasal airway resistance is generally correlated with the anterior nasal cavity volume. When the maxilla is moved posterosuperiorly, the anterior nasal cavity volume increases, decreasing the nasal airway resistance.

Conclusion

When the maxilla is moved posterosuperiorly, nasal airway resistance generally correlates with anterior nasal cavity volume. While posterosuperior movement of the maxilla can enhance nasal patency, patency stabilises at the optimal level for each patient.