Bone substitutes in Le Fort I osteotomy to promote bone union and skeletal stability

Abstract

Background: Maxillary advancement by Le Fort I osteotomy has become the standard procedure to restore function and facial aesthetics, correct skeletal and occlusal discrepancies and treat obstructive sleep apnea in patients with facial deformities. Incomplete ossification between the bone segments at the jaw osteotomy site has proven to be a major problem in these cases. There are several studies in the literature that address orthognathic surgery, but only a limited number that discuss the use of graft materials in maxillary osteotomy. Bone grafts were introduced in recent decades in order to promote and improve bone union and prevent the formation of gaps.