The Effects of the Maxillary Movements in Angle Class 2 and 3 Malocclusion Treatment on Nose Air Flow Amount, Rate, and Resistance

Abstract

Maxillary movements performed during orthognathic surgery affect the external and internal anatomy of the nose. The functional and anatomical effects may change nasal airway parameters after the surgery, and these alterations can be examined objectively by rhinomanometry. In this study, patients who underwent maxillary orthognathic surgery were divided into 3 groups based on their surgical plans: advancement (group 1), impaction and advancement (group 2), and setdown and advancement (group 3). Preoperative and postoperative rhinomanometric data including the average nasal volume, minimum cross-sectional area, average airflow resistance of the right and left nasal passageways, and an average of both nasal passages were collected. The study included 50 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery between October 2021 and October 2022. There were 20 patients each in group 1 and group 2 and 10 patients in group 3. The average nasal passage volume increased in the advancement (group 1) and impaction–advancement (group 2) groups. In addition, the advancement (group 1) group had a decreased average airflow resistance. Setdown–advancement (group 3) group did not show a positive or negative effect on nasal airway parameters. Maxillary movements during orthognathic surgery revealed no adverse effect on nasal parameters. Moreover, advancement and impaction positively affected nasal functional and anatomical parameters.