Transverse surgical correction of the maxilla : a modified procedure

A modified surgical procedure to expand as well as reduce the width of the hard palate is described. Instead of a single sagittal osteotomy in the midline of the palate, multiple sagittal osteotomies are performed parallel to each other and maintaining the periosteal attachment to each of the fragments. The hard palate is thereby moveable and can be reduced in a transverse direction as well as expanded. The expansion will, however, be limited to the height of the curvature of the palate. Minor complications with the method are described. Long-term postoperative follow-up shows stable results with the method.