Expansión Rápida del Maxilar: Revisión actualizada de las técnicas disponibles / Rapid Maxillary Expansion: Updated Review of Available Techniques

La deficiencia transversal del maxilar es una anomalía dentomaxilar capaz de producir problemas funcionales en la oclusión, respiración y estéticos. Su presentación clínica tradicional es la mordida cruzada posterior y una alteración en la relación transversal intermaxilar, la cual impide la correcta erupción de las piezas dentarias. Su manejo corresponde a la expansión rápida del maxilar, la cual puede ser asistida mediante mini-implantes (MARPE), cirugía (SARPE) o una combinación de ambas técnicas (MISMARPE). El objetivo del presente artículo es presentar un contraste entre las técnicas empleadas en la expansión rápida del maxilar, para simplificar la toma de decisiones clínicas. Se elaboró una revisión narrativa en las bases de datos PubMed, Scopus y Epistemonikos contemplando revisiones sistemáticas, metaanálisis, ensayos clínicos aleatorizados y estudios observacionales publicados entre el año 2013 a 2023. Un total de 23 artículos fueron incluidos, los cuales cumplían con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión establecidos. El manejo clínico de la deficiencia transversal del maxilar frecuentemente requiere un abordaje interdisciplinario combinando un enfoque ortopédico y quirúrgico. Según lo encontrado en la actual revisión, tanto el MARPE, SARPE y MISMARPE reportan indicaciones y limitaciones, así como complicaciones asociadas, sin embargo, serían efectivas en la resolución de deficiencias transversales. Se recomienda al clínico considerar dicha información de acuerdo a las necesidades particulares de cada caso clínico, así como profundizar y prolongar el estudio de nuevas técnicas para analizar su estabilidad a largo plazo en comparación a las otras corrientes terapéuticas.

The transverse deficiency of the maxilla is a dentomaxillary anomaly capable of producing functional problems in occlusion, respiration and esthetics. Its traditional clinical presentation is dental crowding, which obstructs the correct eruption of the teeth. Its management corresponds to rapid maxillary expansion, which can be assisted by means of mini-implants (MARPE), surgery (SARPE) or a combination of both techniques (MISMARPE). The objective of this article is to present a contrast between the techniques used in rapid maxillary expansion to simplify clinical decision making. A narrative review was performed in PubMed, Scopus and Epistemonikos databases, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized clinical trials and observational studies published between 2013 and 2023. A total of 23 articles were included, which met the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The clinical management of transverse deficiency of the maxilla frequently requires an interdisciplinary management, combining an orthopedic and surgical approach. As found in the current review, all techniques; MARPE, SARPE and MISMARPE, report indications and limitations, as well as associated complications. It is recommended to deepen and prolong the study of new techniques in order to analyze their long-term stability in comparison to other therapeutic currents.

Recommendations to minimize tooth root remodeling in patients undergoing maxillary osteotomies.

The purpose of this study was to report root remodeling/resorption percentages of maxillary teeth following the different maxillary osteotomies; i.e. one-piece, two-pieces, three-pieces Le Fort I, surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE). The possibility of relationships between root remodeling and various patient- and/or treatment-related factors were further investigated. A total of 110 patients (1075 teeth) who underwent combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgery were studied retrospectively. The sample size was divided into: 30 patients in one-piece Le Fort I group, 30 patients in multi-pieces Le Fort I group, 20 patients in SARPE group and 30 patients in orthodontic group. Preoperative and 1 year postoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were obtained. A validated and automated method for evaluating root remodeling and resorption in three dimensions (3D) was applied. SARPE group showed the highest percentage of root remodeling. Spearman correlation coefficient revealed a positive relationship between maxillary advancement and root remodeling, with more advancement contributing to more root remodeling. On the other hand, the orthodontic group showed a negative correlation with age indicating increased root remodeling in younger patients. Based on the reported results of linear, volumetric and morphological changes of the root after 1 year, clinical recommendations were provided in the form of decision tree flowchart and tables. These recommendations can serve as a valuable resource for surgeons in estimating and managing root remodeling and resorption associated with different maxillary surgical techniques.

Numerical study of the impact of osteotomies and distractor location in surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion for transverse maxillary deficiency.

INTRODUCTION: This paper employs finite element analysis to assess the biomechanical behavior of surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) with a bone-borne transpalatal distractor (TPD) by varying surgical parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nine models were constructed to scrutinize the effects of pterygomaxillary disjunction (PMD), lateral osteotomy positioning, and TPD placement on displacement profiles and Von Mises stresses. These models encompassed variations such as no, unilateral or bilateral PMD, asymmetrical lateral osteotomy, and five TPD locations. RESULTS: Performing a PMD reduces posterior resistance to transverse expansion, resulting in 10-20 % stress reduction around the maxillofacial complex. No significant changes in horizontal tipping were observed post-PMD. The asymmetric lateral osteotomy model exhibited larger displacements on the side with a more superiorly positioned osteotomy. Reduced stresses were observed at the maxillary body and medial pterygoid plate (superiorly), while increased stresses were observed at the medial (inferiorly) and lateral pterygoid plates. More posterior TPD placement facilitated more parallel expansion thus less horizontal tipping, albeit with increased vertical tipping. DISCUSSION: SARPE procedures (distractor and osteotomy positions) can be tailored based on desired outcomes. PMD reduces stress within the maxillofacial complex but doesn't significantly affect tipping. Higher lateral osteotomies lead to increased displacements, more posterior distractors to more parallel expansion.

Complications of Surgically Assisted Rapid Maxillary/Palatal Expansion (SARME/SARPE)-A Retrospective Analysis of 185 Cases Treated at a Single Center.

Objectives: The study aims to assess and classify complications in patients treated for maxillary transverse deficiency using surgically assisted rapid maxillary/palatal expansion (SARME/SARPE) under general anesthesia. The classification of the complications aimed to assess the difficulty of their treatment as well as estimate its real cost. Methods: The retrospective study covered 185 patients who underwent surgery for a skeletal deformity in the form of maxillary constriction or in which maxillary constriction was one of its components treated by a team of maxillofacial surgeons at one center (97 females and 88 males, aged 15 to 47 years, mean age 26.1 years). Complications were divided into two groups: early complications (up to 3 weeks after surgery) and late complications (>3 weeks after surgery). In relation to the occurrence of complications, we analyzed the demographic characteristics of the group, type of skeletal deformity (class I, II, III), presence of open bite and asymmetry, surgical technique, type and size of appliance used for maxillary expansion, as well as the duration of surgery. Results: In the study group, complications were found in 18 patients (9.73%). Early complications were found in nine patients, while late complications were also found in nine patients. Early complications include no possibility of distraction, palatal mucosa necrosis, perforation of the maxillary alveolar process caused by the distractor and asymmetric distraction. Late complications include maxillary incisor root resorption, no bone formation in the distraction gap, and maxillary incisor necrosis. None of the patients required prolonged hospitalization and only one required reoperation. Conclusions: Complications were found in 18 patients (9.73%). All challenges were classified as minor difficulties since they did not suppress the final outcome of the treatment of skeletal malocclusion. However, the complications that did occur required additional corrective measures. Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion, when performed properly and in correlation with the correct orthodontic treatment protocol, is an effective and predictable technique for treating maxillary constriction.

Clinical and CT Scan Evaluation of Outcomes of Modified SARPE Using a Bone-Borne Hyrax Appliance in Unilateral Posterior Crossbite.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate, using clinical and computed tomography, outcomes of unilateral SARPE with a bone-borne hyrax appliance in case of unilateral crossbite and to assess the correlations between hyrax appliance opening and post-SARPE skeletal changes. Materials and Methods: Two patients of unilateral crossbite underwent Unilateral SARPE and post-surgical expansion of maxilla using a bone-borne hyrax appliance. Computed tomography was used to make comparative linear and angular measurements of the anterior, intermediate, and posterior portions of the maxilla. The correlation between maxillary expansion and appliance opening was also investigated. Results: Significant overall expansion was observed with maximum expansion in the anterior and inferior portions of the maxilla. The degree of appliance opening was significantly greater than that of the skeletal expansion. Comparative CAD measurements showed maximum increase in interdental width at the second premolar level. Conclusion: The transverse expansion of the maxilla obtained with a bone-borne hyrax is less than uniform. The lack of linear correlation between appliance opening and skeletal expansion is attributable to multiple factors, including those related to the device, the surgical technique, and the craniofacial deformity itself.

Dental, Skeletal, and Soft Tissue Changes after Bone-Borne Surgically Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: For non-growing patients with marked transverse maxillary deficiency, bone-borne surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) has been proposed as an effective treatment option. Objective: To evaluate the dental, skeletal, and soft tissue changes following bone-borne SARME. (2) Methods: An unrestricted systematic electronic search of six databases, supplemented by manual searches, was performed up to April 2023. The eligibility criteria included prospective/retrospective clinical studies with outcomes pertaining to objective measurements of dental/skeletal/soft tissue effects of bone-borne SARME in healthy patients. (3) Results: Overall, 27 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. The risk of bias of the non-randomized trials ranged between moderate (20) and serious (4). For the two RCTs, there were some concerns of bias. Trials with outcomes measured at the same landmarks within the scope of the prespecified timeframe were deemed eligible for quantitative synthesis. Eventually, five trials were included in the meta-analysis. SARME was associated with a statistically significant lengthening of the dental arch perimeter immediately after expansion, along with a marginally significant decrease in palatal depth during the post-SARME retention period. Post-treatment SNA values exhibited no statistically significant change. (4) Conclusion: Current evidence indicates that bone-borne SARME constitutes an effective treatment option for adult patients with maxillary transverse deficiency. Further long-term randomized clinical trials with robust methodology, large sample sizes, and 3D evaluation of the outcomes are needed.

Maxillary expansion in nongrowing patients. Conventional, surgical, or miniscrew-assisted, an update.

Maxillary transverse deficiency can occur in various clinical dentoskeletal deformities and include unilateral or bilateral posterior crossbite, narrow, tapering, or high palatal arch. The development of temporary anchorage devices led to a new generation of tooth-bone-borne expansion appliance using two or four screws to apply the mechanical forces to the bone and reduce the stress to the anchored teeth. The aim of these new devices is to reduce the adverse dentoalveolar effect and achieve more skeletal expansion than conventional tooth-borne rapid palatal expansion. This article reviews the age limitation and complication and soft tissue change of nonsurgical maxillary expansion. We discuss the approach of surgical maxillary expansion with maxillary skeletal expander device. The clinical case will show the benefit of nonsurgical and surgical tooth-bone-borne rapid palatal expansion.

Sagittal and Vertical Changes of the Maxilla after Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) is often performed to correct the transverse deficiency in the maxilla for skeletally mature patients. However, there is little consensus on the sagittal and vertical displacement of the maxilla after SARPE. This systematic review aims to analyze the position changes of the maxilla in the sagittal and vertical dimensions after the completion of SARPE. Registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42022312103), this study complied with the 2020 PRISMA guideline and was conducted on 21 January 2023. Original studies were screened from MEDLINE (PubMed), Elsevier (SCOPUS), and Cochrane, and supplemented by hand-searching. Cephalometric changes of skeletal vertical and sagittal measurements were the focus. A fixed-effects model was applied in R for meta-analysis. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, seven articles were included in the final review. Four studies had a high risk of bias, and the other three had a medium risk of bias. Meta-analysis revealed that the SNA angle increased by 0.50° ± 0.08° (95% confidence interval, 0.33° to 0.66°), and the SN-PP angle increased by 0.60° ± 0.09° (95% confidence interval, 0.41° to 0.79°) after SARPE. In summary, the maxilla displayed statistically significant forward and clockwise downward movement after SARPE. However, the amounts were small and might not be clinically significant. Due to the high risk of bias of included studies, our results must be taken cautiously. Future studies are needed to discern the effects of direction and angulation of the osteotomies of SARPE on the displacement of the maxilla.

Three-Dimensional Analyses of Postoperative Effects of Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (SARPE) on the Soft Tissue of the Midface Region and the Upper Airway Space Using Stereophotogrammetry and Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).

BACKGROUND: Surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) is an established method to treat transverse maxillary hypoplasia in skeletally mature adult patients. SARPE affects the surrounding soft tissue. In addition, effects on the airway and breathing have been described. Aim of this study was to assess the effects of SARPE on the nasal soft tissue and the upper airway by means of three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: This retrospective study used preoperative and postoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry. Ten skeletally adult patients (4 male, 6 female; mean age 27.68 years) with transverse maxillary hypoplasia were included. Patients had undergone SARPE procedure, performed by the same surgical team using the same technique. Nasal soft tissue changes were analyzed, using three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry records taken preoperatively (t0) and at the postoperative checkup appointment (t1). The upper airway was assessed using CBCT scans for surgical planning (t0) and the first scan taken after SARPE (t1). RESULTS: In stereophotogrammetry, it was shown that only a few soft tissue nasal parameters increased significantly and SARPE leads to mainly clinically irrelevant changes in nasal soft tissue. In CBCT, only a significant increase in nasopharyngeal airway volume was found. DISCUSSION: Results were in alignment with literature. The effects of SARPE on the nasal soft tissue are mostly statistically insignificant and clinically irrelevant. Airway volume significantly increased in the nasopharyngeal area. Further research on SARPE effects should be conducted to reinforce SARPE as a treatment option for sleep apnea patients.

Nasomaxillary Expansion by Endoscopically-Assisted Surgical Expansion (EASE): An airway centric approach / Expansion nasomaxillaire chirurgicale assistée par endoscopie (EASE) : une approche centrée surles voies respiratoires

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the skeletal, dental and airway changes with endoscopically assisted surgical expansion (EASE) to widen the nasomaxillary complex for the treatment of sleep apnea in adults. Methods: One hundred and five consecutive patients underwent EASE. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was conducted preoperatively and within four weeks after the completion of the expansion process. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis was performed on 20 randomly selected patients to assess airway flow changes. Results: One hundred patients (67 males) with the mean age of 35.0±13.5 years (17-64 years) had completed pre- and post-expansion imaging. Ninety-six patients (96%) had successful expansion defined as separation of the midpalatal suture at least 1 mm from anterior nasal spine (ANS) to posterior nasal spine (PNS). The nasal cavity expansion was 3.12±1.11 mm at ANS, 3.64±1.06 mm at first molar and 2.39±1.15 mm at PNS. The zygoma expansion was 2.17±1.11 mm. The ratio of dental expansion to skeletal expansion was 1.23:1 (3.83 mm:3.12 mm) at canine and 1.31:1 (4.77 mm:3.64 mm) at first molar. CFD airway simulation showed a dynamic change following expansion throughout the airway. The mean negative pressure improved in the nasal airway (from -395.5±721.0 to -32.7±19.2 Pa), nasopharyngal airway (from -394.2±719.4 to -33.6±18.5 Pa), oropharyngeal airway (from -405.9±710.8 to -39.4±19.3 Pa) and hypopharyngeal airway (from -422.6±704.9 to -55.1±33.7 Pa). The mean airflow velocity within the nasal airway decreased from 18.8±15.9 to 7.6±2.0 m/s and the oropharyngeal airway decreased from 4.2±2.9 to 3.2±1.2 m/s. The velocity did not change significantly in the nasopharyngeal and hypopharyngeal regions. Conclusions: EASE results in expansion of the midpalatal suture from the ANS to PNS with a nearly pure skeletal movement of minimal dental effect. The expansion of the nasomaxillary complex resulted in the widening of the nasal sidewall throughout the nasal cavity. The improved air flow dynamics was demonstrated by CFD simulation.

Introduction: L'objectif de cette étude était d'analyser les modifications obtenues au niveau du squelette, des dents et des voies respiratoires lors d'une expansion nasomaxillaire chirurgicale assistée par endoscopie (EASE), visant à élargir le complexe nasomaxillaire pour le traitement de l'apnée du sommeil chez des adultes. Méthodes: Cent cinq patients consécutifs ont subi une EASE. Une tomographie à faisceau conique (CBCT) a été réalisée en préopératoire et dans les quatre semaines suivant la fin du processus d'expansion. Une analyse de la dynamique des fluides computationnelle (DFC) a été réalisée sur vingt patients sélectionnés au hasard pour évaluer les modifications du débit de leurs voies respiratoires. Résultats: Un bilan d'imagerie pré- et post-expansion a été réalisé chez cent patients (dont 67 hommes) d'un âge moyen de 35,0 ± 13,5 ans (17-64 ans). Quatre-vingt-seize patients (96 %) ont bénéficié d'une expansion réussie, définie comme une séparation de la suture médiopalatine d'au moins 1 mm, de l'épine nasale antérieure (ENA) à l'épine nasale postérieure (ENP). L'expansion de la cavité nasale était de 3,12 ± 1,11 mm au niveau de l'ENA, de 3,64 ± 1,06 mm au niveau de la première molaire et de 2,39 ± 1,15 mm au niveau de l'ENP. L'expansion zygomatique était de 2,17 ± 1,11 mm. Le rapport entre l'expansion dentaire et l'expansion squelettique était de 1,23 : 1 (3,83 mm : 3,12 mm) au niveau de la canine et de 1,31 : 1 (4,77 mm : 3,64 mm) au niveau de la première molaire. Après l'expansion, la simulation des voies respiratoires par DFC a montré un changement dynamique au niveau de l'ensemble des voies respiratoires. La pression négative moyenne s'est améliorée dans les voies nasales (de -395,5 ± 721,0 à -32,7 ± 19,2 Pa), les voies nasopharyngiennes (de -394,2 ± 719,4 à -33,6 ± 18,5 Pa), les voies aériennes oropharyngées (de -405,9 ± 710,8 à -39,4 ± 19,3 Pa) et les voies aériennes hypopharyngées (de -422,6 ± 704,9 à -55,1 ± 33,7 Pa). La vitesse moyenne du flux d'air dans les voies nasales a diminué de 18,8 ± 15,9 à 7,6 ± 2,0 m/s et de 4,2 ± 2,9 à 3,2 ± 1,2 m/s dans les voies oropharyngées. La vitesse n'a pas changé de manière significative dans les régions nasopharyngienne et hypopharyngienne. Conclusions: L'EASE entraîne une expansion de la suture médiopalatine, de l'ENA jusqu'à l'ENP avec un mouvement squelettique presque pur et un effet dentaire minimal. L'expansion du complexe nasomaxillaire a entraîné l'écartement des parois nasales latérales dans toute la cavité nasale. L'amélioration de la dynamique du flux d'air a été démontrée par une simulation DFC.

Maxillomandibular Advancement for OSA: A 25-year perspective / Expansion maxillaire chirurgicale et non chirurgicale : modèles d'expansion, complications et échecs

OBJECTIVE: The focus of this report is to analyze the pattern of maxillary expansion and complications in patients following surgical and non-surgical maxillary expansion presented for evaluation and second opinion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a 30-months period, 28 patients presented for second opinion following maxillary expansion performed elsewhere. The indication for treatment was obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). All patients reported a lack of symptomatic improvements and problems associated with the treatment. Clinical examination with pre- and post-expansion cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and treatment photographs were analyzed. RESULTS: Complete clinical records and CBCT were available in 22 patients for analysis. Six patients had undergone surgical expansion with distraction osteogenesis maxillary expansion (DOME), and 16 patients had undergone a variety of non-surgical expansion with different appliances. All the DOME patients had anterior nasal spine (ANS) separation without posterior nasal spine (PNS) separation. Diastema ranging between 10-16 mm was noted in the DOME patients, and the ratio of anterior diastema to ANS separation was between 2:1 to 3:1. Bone defects existed between the central incisors at 18 months or beyond following DOME in all the patients despite bone grafting attempts in four patients. Anterior gingival recession occurred in two patients and four incisor teeth required endodontic therapy with long-term guarded prognosis. Sixteen patients underwent non-surgical maxillary expansion with four different appliances, including anterior growth guidance appliance (AGGA), daytime-nighttime appliance (DNA), advanced lightwire functionals appliance (ALF), and mini-screw assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE). The midpalatal suture did not separate in any of the 16 patients, and the expansion pattern was purely dental and dentoalveolar in nature. Lateral dental tipping, thinning of the labial/buccal alveolar bone with gingival recession were noted in 10 patients. Significant mobility of the maxillary anterior teeth due to vertical and horizontal bone loss was noted in the five patients that underwent AGGA treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Different maxillary expansion methods are currently being performed with varying outcomes. Critical analyses of these methods are needed to determine their impact and whether the desired outcomes are achieved.

OBJECTIF: L'objectif de ce rapport est d'analyser, chez des patients venus consulter pour évaluation et deuxième avis, le mode d'expansion maxillaire et les complications survenues après une expansion maxillaire chirurgicale ou non chirurgicale. MATÉRIELS ET MÉTHODES: Au cours d'une période de 30 mois, 28 patients se sont présentés pour un deuxième avis, après une expansion maxillaire. L'indication du traitement était l'apnée obstructive du sommeil (AOS). Tous les patients ont fait état d' un manque d'amélioration de leurs symptômes et de problèmes liés au traitement. Les auteurs ont analysé les examens cliniques, les tomographies à faisceau conique (CBCT) réalisées avant et après l'expansion et les photographies prises au cours du traitement. RÉSULTATS: Les dossiers cliniques complets et les CBCT de 22 patients ont été recueillis pour être étudiés. Six patients avaient subi une expansion chirurgicale du type expansion maxillaire par distraction osseuse (DOME) et 16 patients avaient subi une expansion parmi plusieurs types d'expansions non chirurgicales, conduites au moyen de différents dispositifs. Tous les patients DOME présentaient une séparation de l'épine nasale antérieure (ENA) sans séparation de l'épine nasale postérieure (ENP). Un diastème de 10 à 16 mm a été observé chez les patients DOME et le rapport entre le diastème antérieur et la séparation de l'ENA était de 2:1 à 3:1. Des défauts osseux existaient entre les incisives centrales, à 18 mois ou plus après la DOME, chez tous les patients malgré des tentatives de greffe osseuse chez quatre d'entre eux. Une récession gingivale antérieure est apparue chez deux patients et l'état de quatre incisives a requis un traitement endodontique, dont le pronostic à long terme était réservé.. Seize patients ont subi une expansion maxillaire non chirurgicale conduite au moyen de quatre appareils différents, dont l'appareil de guidage de la croissance antérieure (AGGA), l'appareil jour-nuit (DNA), l'appareil fonctionnel évolué avec fil léger (ALF) et l'expansion palatine rapide assistée par minivis (MARPE). La suture médiopalatine ne s'est séparée chez aucun des 16 patients, et le schéma d'expansion était de nature purement dentaire et dento-alvéolaire. Une vestibuloversion des secteurs dentaires latéraux, un amincissement de l'os alvéolaire vestibulaire avec l'apparition de récessions gingivales ont été observés chez 10 patients. Une mobilité significative des dents antérieures maxillaires, due à une perte osseuse verticale et horizontale, a été notée chez les cinq patients qui ont subi un traitement avec l'AGGA. CONCLUSIONS: Différentes méthodes d'expansion maxillaire sont actuellement pratiquées avec des résultats variables. Des analyses critiques de ces méthodes sont nécessaires pour évaluer leur impact et déterminer si elles permettent d'obtenir les résultats souhaités.

Minimally invasive surgical and miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MISMARPE) in adult patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate maxillary expansion, operative time and pain associated with a new minimally invasive surgical technique to treat maxillary hypoplasia in adult patients. Consecutive patients were included and prospectively analyzed. The technique consists in miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE), minimally invasive approach to maxillary osteotomies, latency period and activation period until the desired expansion. The parameters evaluated included operative time, treatment-related pain by the visual analog scale (VAS), and transverse maxillary expansion. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess the normality of data distribution. A paired t-test was used to compare the data between T0 (preoperative) and T1 (postoperative - end of activation). The significance level was set at 5%. Eleven patients were included. Mean operative time was 24.11 min (14.4-32 min) and overall postoperative VAS score was 2.81 (0-9). A comparative analysis showed significant increases in maxillary width at the skeletal, alveolar, and dental levels (p < 0.0001 for all), with a mean range of 1.8 (SD 0.3) mm to 4.7 (SD 0.5) mm. The present minimally invasive surgical MARPE (MISMARPE) technique appears to yield good skeletal outcomes with minimal trauma. It might have potential for clinical use, but larger comparative studies are needed to confirm the clinical relevance of the approach.

Surgical and non-surgical maxillary expansion: expansion patterns, complications and failures

Objective: The focus of this report was to analyze the pattern of maxillary expansion and complications in patients following surgical and non-surgical maxillary expansion presented for evaluation and second opinion. Materials and Methods: During a 30-months period, 28 patients presented for second opinion following maxillary expansion performed elsewhere. The indication for treatment was obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). All patients reported a lack of symptomatic improvements and problems associated with the treatment. Clinical examination with pre- and post-expansion cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and treatment photographs were analyzed. Results: Complete clinical records and CBCT were available in 22 patients for analysis. Six patients had undergone surgical expansion with distraction osteogenesis maxillary expansion (DOME), and 16 patients had undergone a variety of non-surgical expansion with different appliances. All the DOME patients had anterior nasal spine (ANS) separation without posterior nasal spine (PNS) separation. Diastema ranging between 10-16 mm was noted in the DOME patients, and the ratio of anterior diastema to ANS separation was between 2:1 to 3:1. Bone defects existed between the central incisors at 18 months or beyond following DOME in all the patients despite bone grafting attempts in four patients. Anterior gingival recession occurred in two patients and four incisor teeth required endodontic therapy with long-term guarded prognosis. Sixteen patients underwent non-surgical maxillary expansion with four different appliances, including anterior growth guidance appliance (AGGA), daytime-nighttime appliance (DNA), advanced lightwire functionals appliance (ALF), and mini-screw assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE). The midpalatal suture did not separate in any of the 16 patients, and the expansion pattern was purely dental and dentoalveolar in nature. Lateral dental tipping, thinning of the labial/ buccal alveolar bone with gingival recession were noted in 10 patients. Significant mobility of the maxillary anterior teeth due to vertical and horizontal bone loss was noted in the five patients that underwent AGGA treatment. Conclusions: Different maxillary expansion methods are currently being performed with varying outcomes. Critical analyses of these methods are needed to determine their impact and whether the desired outcomes are achieved.

Nasomaxillary Expansion by Endoscopically-Assisted Surgical Expansion (EASE): An airway centric approach

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the skeletal, dental and airway changes with endoscopically assisted surgical expansion (EASE) to widen the nasomaxillary complex for the treatment of sleep apnea in adults. Methods: One hundred and five consecutive patients underwent EASE. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was conducted preoperatively and within four weeks after the completion of the expansion process. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis was performed on 20 randomly selected patients to assess airway flow changes. Results: One hundred patients (67 males) with the mean age of 35.0±13.5 years (17-64 years) had completed pre- and post-expansion imaging. Ninety-six patients (96%) had successful expansion defined as separation of the midpalatal suture at least 1 mm from anterior nasal spine (ANS) to posterior nasal spine (PNS). The nasal cavity expansion was 3.12±1.11 mm at ANS, 3.64±1.06 mm at first molar and 2.39±1.15 mm at PNS. The zygoma expansion was 2.17±1.11 mm. The ratio of dental expansion to skeletal expansion was 1.23:1 (3.83 mm:3.12 mm) at canine and 1.31:1 (4.77 mm:3.64 mm) at first molar. CFD airway simulation showed a dynamic change following expansion throughout the airway. The mean negative pressure improved in the nasal airway (from -395.5±721.0 to -32.7±19.2 Pa), nasopharyngal airway (from -394.2±719.4 to -33.6±18.5 Pa), oropharyngeal airway (from -405.9±710.8 to -39.4±19.3 Pa) and hypopharyngeal airway (from -422.6±704.9 to -55.1±33.7 Pa). The mean airflow velocity within the nasal airway decreased from 18.8±15.9 to 7.6±2.0 m/s and the oropharyngeal airway decreased from 4.2±2.9 to 3.2±1.2 m/s. The velocity did not change significantly in the nasopharyngeal and hypopharyngeal regions. Conclusions: EASE results in expansion of the midpalatal suture from the ANS to PNS with a nearly pure skeletal movement of minimal dental effect. The expansion of the nasomaxillary complex resulted in the widening of the nasal sidewall throughout the nasal cavity. The improved air flow dynamics was demonstrated by CFD simulation.

Should Mandibular Symphyseal Distraction Osteogenesis be considered in OSA Surgery?

Introduction: Surgical maxillary expansion for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has become common place. To maximize airway improvement, over-expansion of the maxilla can occur, resulting in an excessively widened maxilla that creates a mismatch to the mandible. Therefore, mandibular symphyseal distraction osteogenesis (MSDO) to widen the mandible along with maxillary expansion is being increasingly advocated in OSA surgery. Methods: The authors discuss their 20-year experience with MSDO and surgical maxillary expansion. They also analyze the airway impact between Distraction Osteogenesis Maxillary Expansion (DOME) and Endoscopically-Assisted Surgical Expansion (EASE) based on currently available computational fluid dynamic (CFD) data, which has implications in whether MSDO needs to be considered. Results and Conclusion: The goal of surgical maxillary expansion is to enlarge the nasal cavity and reduce the airway resistance. CFD data demonstrates that EASE results in a much greater reduction in airway resistance as compared to DOME. EASE achieved a 12-fold reduction in nasal airway resistance compared to 3-fold reduction by DOME; a 12-fold reduction of retropalatal airway resistance as compared to 3-fold reduction by DOME; a 10-fold reduction of oropharyngeal airway resistance as compared to a 3-fold reduction by DOME, and an 8-fold reduction of hypopharygeal airway resistance as compared to a 3-fold reduction by DOME. Because there is no physiologic basis or data that demonstrates mandibular widening improves OSA, an airway centric surgical expansion technique such as EASE can achieve a much greater airway impact without needing excessive maxillary widening, thus eliminating the necessity MSDO.

Surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion for transverse maxillary discrepancy in adults - Case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Transverse maxillary deficiency is one of the most detrimental problems to midfacial growth and the integrated dentoalveolar structures. Early diagnosis and proper treatment of such cases is most important to maintain the balance between the basal bones and stable occlusion. CASE PRESENTATION: In our case, a 17-year-old male had irregular upper front teeth with an unpleasant smile. Detail examination revealed a symmetrical face with an orthognathic profile, mild malar deficiency, competent lips, asymmetrical arches, Class I molar and canine relationships bilaterally. Crowding was present in the upper anterior arch with 2 mm of anterior open bite and posterior cross bite present in the premolar region and molar region bilaterally. Lefort-1 osteotomy, midpalatal split, pterygomandibular disjunction without down fracture was done. The HYRAX appliance was cemented. Distraction started after four days of surgery. One mm distraction per day was done for 10 days. The patient was transferred to fixed orthodontic treatment to relive the anterior crowding. Records were taken after 1 year of follow up and analyzed. Skeletal relationships were in harmony. Dental crowding, anterior open bite and posterior crossbite were corrected. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The zygomatic buttress and the pterygomaxillary junction are considered as the critical areas of resistance for maxillary expansion. Literature claims lefort-1 osteotomy in combination with palatal distraction results in more displacement and less stress in the maxilla. CONCLUSION: SARPE has proved to be clinically effective and stable for the correction of transversely deficient maxilla after cessation of growth in adult patients.

The Impact of Maxillary Expansion on Adults' Nasal Breathing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Nasal surgery fails to restore nasal breathing in some cases. Maxillary constriction is suggested as a major cause of failure. It is thought that maxillary constriction leads to the closure of the internal and external nasal valves. Moreover, it is well established in the literature that maxillary expansion, both in adults and children, increases upper airway volume. However, it is yet unclear whether maxillary expansion may improve nasal function.Review Methods: Pubmed (Medline), the Cochrane Library, EMBASE and Trip Database were checked by two authors from the Rhinology Study Group of the Young Otolaryngologists section of the International Federation of Otorhinolaryngological Societies. Two authors extracted the data. The main outcome was expressed as the value (in variable units) prior to treatment (T0), after expansion procedures (T1), after the retention period (T2), and after a follow-up period (T3). RESULTS: A total of 10 studies (257 patients) met the inclusion criteria. The data pooled in the meta-analysis reveals a statistically significant reduction of 0.27 Pa/cm3/s (CI 95% 0.15, 0.39) in nasal resistance after palatal expansion As far as subjective changes are concerned, the pooled data for the change in the NOSE score shows a statistically significant mean reduction after maxillary expansion of 40.08 points (CI 95% 36.28, 43.89). CONCLUSION: The initial available evidence is too limited to suggest maxillary expansion as a primary treatment option to target nasal breathing. However the data is encouraging with regards to the effect of maxillary expansion on nasal function. Further higher quality studies are needed in order to define clearer patient selection criteria, distinguish optimal techniques, and demonstrate long-term efficacy in long term follow up studies.

Immediate dental and skeletal influence of distractor position on surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion with or without pterygomaxillary disjunction.

The outcome of surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) can be affected by pterygomaxillary disjunction (PMD) and the distractor position. In this study, SARPE was performed, with or without PMD, in 20 fresh cadaver heads. Transverse expansion was conducted twice using a bone-borne distractor in the anterior and posterior positions, resulting in four groups (n=10). Cone beam computed tomography scans were completed before and after SARPE to evaluate maxillary changes. A comparative anterior decrease and posterior increase in midpalatal opening resulted from SARPE with PMD combined with a posteriorly placed distractor. Significant differences in the internal transverse changes were found between the two SARPE techniques combined with an anterior distractor at the level of the premolars and molars for alveolar ridge width (P=0.040, P=0.024), and at the level of the molars for the dental crown width (P=0.017) and corresponding tooth cusp width (P=0.018). In contrast, using a posteriorly placed distractor led to a significant difference for tooth cusp width only (P=0.050). No statistically significant differences were found between external transverse changes or between distractor positions. PMD is more important in achieving a more uniform and parallel transverse expansion pattern than the distractor position. However, a posterior distractor seems to intensify the effects of PMD.

A retrospective analysis of the complication rate after SARPE in 111 cases, and its relationship to patient age at surgery.

PURPOSE: Surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) is a well-known surgical intervention for treating maxillary transverse deficiencies (MTDs). This investigation aimed to evaluate the complication rate after SARPE, and its relationship to patient age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on multivariate analyses, the complication rate after SARPE and its association with increasing age in 111 patients with MTD was evaluated. In every case the following variables were evaluated: age, gender, concomitant surgery, expander appliance, perioperative and dental complications, pain score, neurosensory disturbances (NSDs), postoperative excessive haemorrhage, length of hospital stay, infection, oronasal communication, palatal ulceration, asymmetrical maxillary expansion, mal- or non-union of the bone, lacrimation, and mechanical failure. RESULTS: Overall, 58 (52.25%) patients had minor-to-severe complications. The most common complications were NSDs (27.03%) and postoperative pain (13.51%). Multivariate analysis showed that the frequency of dental complications (mean age 35.9; SD = 10.5140; p = 0.0021∗), NSDs in general (mean age 30; SD = 9.9827; p = 0.0157∗), NSDs lasting more than 4 weeks (mean age 30,9583; SD = 10.6260; p = 0.0105∗), and NSDs lasting more than 1 year (mean age 36.2; SD = 8.7579; p = 0.0201∗) increased significantly with patient age. CONCLUSION: Detailed data analysis revealed a limited number of severe, long-term complications after SARPE. However, careful patient selection is recommended in elderly cases.

Evaluation of skeletal changes associated with surgically rapid palatal expansion without pterygomaxillary separation.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate skeletal and nasal volume changes before and after surgery in surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) without pterygomaxillary separation and compare the dental changes by digital model analysis and radiographic analysis. SETTING AND SAMPLE: Population A total of 18 patients (10 females and 8 males) aged 15-33 years and with completed skeletal development, who were referred to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Dentistry Faculty, Istanbul University and who had SARPE indication were included in the study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Skeletal changes, lower nasal volume, transverse diameters of bony nasolacrimal duct and dental changes have been evaluated by using Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) before and 6 months after the surgery. CBCT data was determined by Mimics v.18.01. Dental changes have been also evaluated by digital model analysis program 'Shape Orthoanalyzer' and the data are compared with those obtained using CBCT. RESULTS: The results obtained from dental measurements made using CBCT and those obtained using scanning three-dimensional (3D) models were consistent with each other. CBCT demonstrated that lower anterior nasal volume and transverse diameters of bony nasolacrimal duct showed statistically significant increase before and after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: According to the study findings, SARPE without pterygomaxillary separation was noted to be an effective procedure. Lower nasal volumes were increased and the maxilla expanded in the transverse direction in all patients. Dental evaluations that were performed in this digital model analysis also supported our findings in CBCT. Transverse diameters of the bony nasolacrimal duct were shortened at all patients.