Pterygomaxillary separation in Le Fort I osteotomy UK OMFS consultant questionnaire survey

Pterygomaxillary osteotomy or leverage alone is commonly used to achieve separation of the posterior maxilla from the pterygoid process in the Le Fort I osteotomy. An osteotomy of the tuberosity is less often used. No published data exist on the extent to which surgeons in the UK have adopted these techniques or on the incidence of technique-related vascular complications. We aimed to investigate techniques that are currently used for pterygomaxillary separation and maxillary mobilisation, and the incidence of serious vascular complications among orthognathic surgeons in the UK in 2004. A questionnaire was sent to 301 oral and maxillofacial (OMFS) consultant surgeons in the UK and 205 were returned (response rate 68%). Most of these surgeons (78%) reported that they use an osteotome or a micro-oscillating saw for pterygomaxillary separation. The others use leverage alone or osteotomy of the tuberosity. Eleven (8%) of the surgeons who use a pterygomaxillary osteotome reported that they had had a serious vascular complication in the past year. There were no vascular complications reported by surgeons who use leverage alone or osteotomy of the tuberosity.