Eustachian Tube Dysfunction After LeFort 1 Osteotomy Orthognathic Surgery

Abstract

The authors present a 24-year-old male with a history of class III occlusal deformity who underwent a maxillary advancement with LeFort I osteotomies. Eighteen months after surgery, he was diagnosed with bothersome Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). Anatomical shifts secondary to the LeFort osteotomies required for maxillary advancement result in vector changes of muscles that regulate the function of the Eustachian tube. This realignment of muscles is suspected to be a major contributing factor in causing this patient’s new onset Eustachian tube dysfunction. This article represents a pilot project as data are collected for a retrospective and, ultimately, prospective studies on this topic.