[Arteriovenous fistula of the maxillary artery, eustachian tube dysfunction and tinnitus after Le Fort I osteotomy].

A 36-year-old woman with a maxillary retrognathia underwent a Le Fort I osteotomy. Postoperatively, she complained of pulsatile noise and hearing loss in the left ear. Carotid arteriography revealed an arteriovenous fistula of the left maxillary artery; in addition, a persistent eustachian tube dysfunction with left middle ear effusion was noticed. After embolization of the fistula and ventilation tube treatment, improved hearing and a significant reduction of tinnitus were achieved. Arteriovenous fistulas after orthognathic surgery are very rare. Postoperative eustachian tube dysfunction has not yet been reported in the literature.