A possible otological complication due to maxillary expansion in a cleft lip and palate patient.
OBJECTIVE
We present a possible negative side effect of a sudden onset of secretory otitis media in a 12-year-old boy with unilateral cleft lip and palate who underwent maxillary expansion. The secretory otitis media caused a temporary hearing loss developed during the activation of the expander appliance. The possible causes for this complication are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians should be aware of the possible association between maxillary expansion and secretory otitis media.
Orthodontics and Cleft Palate Centre, Maxillofacial Depatment, Rambam Medical Centre and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel. d_aizenbud@rambam.health.gov.il
D
D
Aizenbud
T
T
Hefer
A
A
Rachmiel
A A
AA
Figueroa
H Z
HZ
Joachims
D
D
Laufer
D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000628:therapy*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000628:therapy*; D004724:Endoscopy; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000628:therapy; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000209:etiology*; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation