AÇBİD 15th İnternational Congress, Antalya, Türkiye, 11 Mayıs 2022
Objective: Le Fort I osteotomy is a safe and successful surgical procedure that is widely used
to correct skeletal maxillary deformity. Although the procedure is generally safe, nasolacrimal
canal injury may occur in rare cases. Nasolacrimal canal anatomy and morphology should well
known to reduce this complication risk. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the
nasolacrimal canal anatomical features and localization.
Materials-Methods: 240 bony nasolacrimal canals analyzed on 120 patients who underwent
Le Fort I osteotomy. The anteroposterior-transverse diameter of bony nasolacrimal canal, the
distance between maxillary buccal cortical bone and nasolacrimal canal were measured at
level most superior and inferior of nasolacrimal canal in axial section. The distance between
nasal floor and most inferior of nasolacrimal canal were also measured in coronal section. All
measurements were performed by the same radiologist.
Results: The anteroposterior diameter of the bony nasolacrimal canal was 5.88±1.12mm at
most superior level and 7.68±1.49mm at most inferior level. The transverse diameter was
4.86±0.9mm at most superior level and 4.82±0.94mm at the most inferior level. The distance
between maxillary buccal cortical bone and nasolacrimal canal was 3.49±1.78mm at most
superior level and 7.15±3.1mm at most inferior level. The most inferior point of nasolacrimal
canal was approximately 16.95±2.61mm above to the nasal floor.
Conclusion: The inferior part of nasolacrimal canal may be at risk for injury during Le Fort I
osteotomy. Evaluation of the anatomical features of the nasolacrimal canal on preoperative
CBCT is important to minimize the risk of nasolacrimal canal injury.