AbstractSurgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) is the treatment of choice to adult patients even with severe transversal maxillary discrepancies. However, the adequate retention period to achieve the bone remodeling, thus assuring treatment stability, is controversial.Objective To evaluate the opening pattern and bone neoformation process at the midpalatal suture in patients submitted to surgically assisted (SARME) through cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).Material and Methods Fourteen patients were submitted to SARME through subtotal Le Fort I osteotomy. Both the opening pattern and the mean bone density at midpalatal suture area to evaluate bone formation were assessed pre- and post-operatively (15, 60 and 180 days) through CBCT.Results Type I opening pattern (from anterior to posterior nasal spine) occurred in 12 subjects while type II opening pattern (from anterior nasal spine to transverse palatine suture) occurred in 2 individuals. The 180-day postoperative mean (PO 180) of bone density value was 49.9% of the preoperative mean (Pre) value.Conclusions The opening pattern of midpalatal suture is more related to patients’ age (23.9 years in type I and 33.5 years in type II) and surgical technique. It was not possible to observe complete bone formation at midpalatal suture area at the ending of the retention period studied (180 days).

INTRODUÇÃO: O tratamento da deficiência transversal de maxila, em adultos, exige a expansão de maxila cirurgicamente assistida. Diversas técnicas cirúrgicas são conhecidas para a realização desse procedimento, porém estas relacionam-se com complicações. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a incidência de complicações associadas ao procedimento de expansão de maxila cirurgicamente assistida. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Trinta e três indivíduos com deficiência transversal de maxila foram submetidos ao procedimento de expansão pela técnica da osteotomia Le Fort I subtotal com degrau no pilar zigomático-maxilar, disjunção ptérigo-maxilar e osteotomia da sutura intermaxilar. Durante os períodos trans e pós-operatório, as complicações relacionadas ao procedimento e as distâncias interdentais foram registradas. RESULTADO: Doze homens e 21 mulheres, com idade média de 24,64 anos, submeteram-se ao procedimento. As mensurações das distâncias interdentais evidenciaram aumento das mesmas entre os períodos pré-operatório e pós-operatório de 2 meses. As complicações prevalentes foram sinusite (6%) e deslocamento associado à inclinação dental (6%). CONCLUSÃO: A expansão de maxila cirurgicamente assistida é um procedimento eficaz e de baixa morbidade para o tratamento da deficiência transversal de maxila em indivíduos adultos.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of adult transverse maxillary deficiency is the surgically assisted maxillary expansion. Several surgical techniques have been described for this and complications have been related to these procedures. OBJECTIVE: the aim of this study was evaluate the incidence of complications associated with surgically assisted maxillary expansion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 33 individuals undergone surgically assisted maxillary expansion by subtotal Le Fort I osteotomy with a step in the zygomatic-maxillary buttress and associated to pterigomaxillary disjunction and osteotomy of intermaxillary suture. Operative complications, post-operative complications and the distance between the upper teeth were recorded. RESULT: 12 men and 21 women with an average age of 24.64 years undergone the procedure. The interdental distances increased from preoperative to 2 months post-operative time. The prevalent complications were sinusitis (6%) and teeth displacement and inclination (6%). CONCLUSION: Surgically assisted maxillary expansion is an effective and low morbidity procedure to treat transverse maxillary deficiency in adults.