Craniofacial morphology and growth comparisons in children with Robin Sequence, isolated cleft palate, and unilateral complete cleft lip and palate.
OBJECTIVE
Comparison of early craniofacial morphology and growth in children with nonsyndromic Robin Sequence (RS), isolated cleft palate (ICP), and unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCCLP).


METHODS
One hundred eight children with cleft: 7 with RS, 53 with ICP, and 48 with UCCLP were included in the study. The children were drawn from the group of all Danish children with cleft born 1976 through 1981.


METHODS
Three-projection infant cephalometry.


RESULTS
The craniofacial morphology in the RS, ICP, and UCCLP groups had some common characteristics: a wide maxilla with decreased length and posterior height, wide nasal cavity, short mandible, bimaxillary retrognathia, and reduced pharyngeal airway. The shortest mandible was found in RS followed by ICP and UCCLP; the pharyngeal airway was reduced in RS and ICP, compared with UCCLP; and the maxillary complex and nasal cavity were wider in UCCLP than in the other groups. The amount of facial growth in all three groups was similar; however, the direction was more vertical in UCCLP than in RS and ICP.


CONCLUSIONS
Except for a shorter RS mandible, the facial morphology of infants with RS and ICP was similar, as was the amount of facial growth and the growth pattern. The differences in facial morphology can be ascribed to the difference in the primary anomaly. The amount of facial growth was similar in the three groups; however, the growth pattern showed a more vertical direction in UCCLP than in RS and ICP. It is hypothesized that the mandibular retrognathia in RS represents the outer end of that of the ICP distribution.
Hermann
N V
NV
Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Clinical Genetics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. nh@lab3d.odont.ku.dk
Kreiborg
S
S
Darvann
T A
TA
Jensen
B L
BL
Dahl
E
E
Bolund
S
S
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002508:Cephalometry; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D010855:Pierre Robin Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*