Determining the osteotomy pattern in surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion in a unilateral palatal cleft: A finite element model approach

Abstract

A more invasive SARME technique can significantly reduce the resultant stresses. However, this benefit should be weighed against the risk of increasing complications associated with more extensive surgeries. When a more conservative surgical technique is selected, it would be preferable to perform a midpalatal split rather than zygomatic buttress osteotomies, as indicated by the stress-strain distribution and displacement pattern associated with different SARME techniques.