Effects of incisions made with electrocautery and scalpel on upper lip length: a pilot study

Abstract

AbstractAim: To compare the changes in the upper lip (UL) length after performing incisions with scalpel and electrocautery for maxillary impaction.Patients and methods: Patients submitted to maxillary superior repositioning greater than 3 mm were randomly assigned to two groups. Only cases with a smaller maxillary advancement were included. Incisions were made with scalpel in Group 1 and with electrocautery in Group 2. Pre‐ and post‐operative lateral cephalometric radiographs were used to calculate the changes in the UL length (subnasal and stomium superior), and superior movement of the UL relative to maxillary impaction.Results: Sixteen patients that underwent maxillary impaction were evaluated. Four patients were previously excluded. The mean maxillary impaction was 4.85 mm and the mean advancement was 1.87 mm. The mean UL shortening was 0.53 mm, and the mean UL superior movement relative to maxillary impaction was 11.88%. In the five patients of Group 1, the mean lip shortening was 0.32 mm and superior movement of the UL relative to maxillary impaction was 10.91% on average. The seven patients of Group 2 presented a mean lip shortening of 0.68 mm, and superior movement of the UL relative to maxillary impaction was 15.41% on average.Conclusion: Although Group 2 showed greater UL shortening than Group 1, it was not statistically significant.