Maxillary Bone Fracture Due to a Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion - A Case Report

Background: /Objectives: Miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) has emerged as a non-surgical alternative for maxillary expansion in adults. However, complications associated with MARPE remain underreported. This case report describes a rare instance of maxillary bone fracture following MARPE and discusses its clinical implications. Case Presentation: A brief description of the main methods or treatments applied. This can include any relevant preregistration or specimen information. Results: Sensory disturbances, likely resulting from infraorbital nerve injury, gradually improved over two years and eventually resolved completely. However, due to psychological distress, the patient abandoned the planned orthognathic surgery and pursued orthodontic treatment alone. Conclusions: This case underscores the risk of maxillary bone fractures associated with MARPE, particularly in adults with ossified sutures and reduced bone elasticity. The fracture appears to have resulted from load distribution around the zygomatico-maxillary suture during expansion. Careful patient selection, comprehensive risk assessment, and vigilant monitoring are crucial in minimizing complications. In high-risk cases, surgical approaches for transverse expansion should be considered rather than presurgical orthodontic expansion.