Evaluation of Post-operative Complication Rate of Le Fort I Osteotomy: A Retrospective and Prospective Study

Le Fort I osteotomy has become a routine procedure in elective orthognathic surgery. This procedure is often associated with significant but rare post-operative complications. The study was conducted to evaluate the rate of post-operative complications following conventional Le Fort I osteotomy. Twenty-five healthy adult patients who had to undergo Le Fort I osteotomy without segmentalization of maxilla were included in the study based on indications of surgery. All the patients were followed up for a period of 6 months post-operatively to assess the rate of various post-operative complications such as neurosensory deficit, pulpal sensibility, maxillary sinusitis, vascular complications, aseptic necrosis, unfavourable fractures, ophthalmic complications and instability or non-union of maxilla, etc. The results of our study showed a post-operative complications rate of 4 %. Neurosensory deficit and loss of tooth sensibility were the most common findings during patient evaluation at varying follow-up periods while one patient presented with signs and symptoms of maxillary sinusitis post-operatively. Neurosensory as well as sinusitis recovery took place in almost all the patients within 6 months. It was concluded that thorough understanding of pathophysiological aspects of various complications, careful assessment, treatment planning and the use of proper surgical technique as well as instrumentation may help in further reducing the complication rate.