With the Le Fort I technique one can move the entire maxilla in the three planes of space and with segmentation we can expand or compress the maxilla. Therefore Le Fort I technique has direct effect in the nasal cavities morphology. This situation can change the nasal airway resistance. The aim of our study is to evaluate the nasal airway with a rhinomanometry before and after Le Fort I osteotomies. Rhinomanometries scores were taken 1 week before and 5 months after surgery. The amount and direction of the maxilla movement was registered (forward, downward, upward, expansion and compression). With the software SPSS central tendency measures were obtained and these values compared with the standard.

Results: Rhinomanometry showed a significant decrease in the airway resistance in the Le Fort I technique with average movements of forward 4 mm, and upward (X:1.57 mm), downward (X:1.5 mm), compression (X:1.46 mm) or expansion (X: 2.42 mm) movements.

Conclusion: Le Fort I with forward movement of the maxilla accompanied by different movements in space should favorable improve the airway resistance.

Conflict of interest : None declared.