Skeletal stability and relapse patterns after Le Fort I osteotomy using miniplate fixation in patients with isolated cleft palate.
We present a series of 14 consecutive isolated cleft palate patients aged 17 to 25 years (mean 19 years) who underwent Le Fort I maxillary advancement fixed with miniplates by the senior author (Posnick) over the period 1987-1991. Ten of the patients underwent autogenous bone grafting; all were stabilized intraoperatively with four miniplates, a prefabricated acrylic splint, and intermaxillary fixation. The patients were analyzed to determine amount and timing of horizontal and anterior and posterior vertical relapse, correlation between advancement and relapse, effect of a pharyngoplasty in place at time of osteotomy, effect of performing multiple jaw procedures, and maintenance of overjet and overbite. Tracings of preoperative and serial postoperative lateral cephalograms (immediate, 6 to 8 weeks, and 1 year) were analyzed to calculate horizontal and vertical maxillary changes and the amount of overjet and overbite maintained. Clinical follow-up ranged from 1.5 to 5.5 years (mean 2.5 years). No significant difference was seen in vertical or horizontal change or relapse between patients who had maxillary surgery alone (n = 10) and those who had operations in both jaws (n = 4), nor did outcome vary significantly for those who had a pharyngoplasty in place (n = 8) at the time of their Le Fort I osteotomy. The mean "effective" maxillary advancement for the group was 6.4 mm, with 5.4 mm maintained 1 year later (mean relapse 1.0 mm).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Posnick
J C
JC
Division of Plastic Surgery, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
Taylor
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002508:Cephalometry; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D014716:Vertical Dimension