Variants of AMO

The anterior maxillary osteotomy (AMO) is employed primarily to reposition the anterior dento-osseous maxillary segment posteriorly (setback). It is also used to move the segment superiorly or inferiorly as indicated. Wunderer formed a vestibular pedunculated anterior maxillary segment, while foregoing Wassmund’s palatal tunneling and palatal perfusion by forming a palatal mucosal flap and osteotomy under direct visual control. Finally, Bell and Epker paved the way for complete maxillary osteotomy in the Le Fort I plane by accessing the anterior maxillary segment from cranial with downfracturing. Nevertheless, segmental osteotomies are an integral part of orthognathic surgery, so that variants of the original techniques are described again and again.