Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, cilt.36, sa.7, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Objectives: Orthognathic surgery corrects skeletal malocclusions and improves facial aesthetics. Maxillary advancement, a component of this procedure, alters the upper airway and may affect olfactory function. However, limited research has explored this relationship. This study aimed to evaluate changes in olfactory function in patients undergoing LeFort I osteotomy for maxillary advancement. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 21 patients (12 men, 9 women; mean age: 25.3 y) who underwent LeFort I osteotomy between August 2022 and August 2023. Inclusion criteria were being over 18 years old, no olfactory dysfunction, no history of nasal surgery, and no septal deviation. Patients with upper respiratory infections, smoking history, or COVID-19 were excluded. Olfactory function was evaluated using smell stick tests preoperatively and at 1 and 6 months postoperatively. The tests assessed threshold and identification abilities for coffee, vanilla, and cocoa odors. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests. Results: Postoperative threshold scores for vanilla and cocoa odors increased significantly (P = 0.008 and P = 0.001, respectively), suggesting enhanced olfactory sensitivity. However, no significant changes were observed for coffee. No differences were found in the identification test for any odors. No correlation was found between the degree of maxillary advancement and olfactory function changes. Conclusions: Maxillary advancement after LeFort I osteotomy appears to influence olfactory function, particularly for vanilla and cocoa odors' threshold sensitivity. Identification abilities remained unchanged, but threshold sensitivity improvements suggest a potential impact. Larger studies with long-term follow-up are needed to explore these findings' clinical significance.