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Anatomical Variations of the Greater Palatine Foramen in Different Facial Skeletal Relationships and its Implications on LeFort 1 Osteotomy (Trimble’s Modification)

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Abstract

Purpose

To determine the positional variations of the greater palatine foramen in different facial skeletal relationships and discuss its surgical implications on the Trimble’s modification of Lefort I osteotomy.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study examined 50 computed tomography scans of patients a total of 100 sides. The sample was divided into four groups: Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 malocclusion and Unilateral cleft lip and palate). The outcome variables included the distance between anterior, middle and posterior points of the GPF to the distal of second molar and variables to assess relative position of the GPF to the posterior maxilla. Outcome measures were to demonstrate intra- and intergroup variability.

Results

Fifty patients (100 sides) were divided into four groups. This included 23 males and 27 females with a mean age of 24.1 years. Significant intergroup variability was observed between all the parameters that demonstrate the relative position of the GPF to (i) the maxillary second molar and (ii) the posterior maxilla. The analysis revealed that the GPF was positioned significantly anterior in Class 2 patients when compared with Class 3 patients.

Conclusion

The GPF exhibits significant positional variability in different facial skeletal relationships which should be borne in mind while designing and performing the Trimble’s modification of the Lefort 1 osteotomy.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Dr. Shanthanu Patil (Head, Department of Translational Medicine & Research, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai) for his invaluable assistance with the model generation, simulation and measurements.

Funding

No funding was received for conducting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600095, India

    R. Soundarya Rachana, T. Srinivasa Prasad & Anantanarayanan Parameswaran

Authors
  1. R. Soundarya Rachana
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  2. T. Srinivasa Prasad
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  3. Anantanarayanan Parameswaran
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anantanarayanan Parameswaran.

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The authors have no financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was given by the Institutional Review Board in Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, Chennai-95. Reference number: MADC/IEC-I/12/2022.

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Soundarya Rachana, R., Srinivasa Prasad, T. & Parameswaran, A. Anatomical Variations of the Greater Palatine Foramen in Different Facial Skeletal Relationships and its Implications on LeFort 1 Osteotomy (Trimble’s Modification). J. Maxillofac. Oral Surg. 22, 813–819 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-023-02059-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-023-02059-3

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