Long-term effects of palate repair on craniofacial morphology in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the long-term effects of palate repair on craniofacial growth in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).


METHODS
Retrospective cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Sri Lankan Cleft Lip and Palate Project.


METHODS
Forty-eight adults with nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate, 29 men and 19 women, had lip repair only (LRO group). Fifty-eight adults with nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate, 35 men and 23 women, had lip and palate repairs by the age of 9 (LPR group).


METHODS
Clinical notes were used to record surgical treatment histories. Cephalometry was used to determine craniofacial morphology.


RESULTS
In the lip and palate repair group, the depth of the bony pharynx (Ba-PMP), the maxillary length at the alveolar level (PMP-A), the effective length of the maxilla (Ar-IZ, Ar-ANS, Ar-A), the maxillary protrusion (S-N-ANS, SNA), the anteroposterior jaw relation (ANS-N-Pog, ANB), and the overjet were smaller than in the lip repair only group. There were no significant differences in the maxillary length at the basal level (PMP-IZ, PMP-ANS) and the anterior and posterior maxillary heights (N-ANS and R-PMP, respectively) in the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Palate repair inhibits the forward displacement of the basal maxilla and anteroposterior development of the maxillary dentoalveolus in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate. Palate repair has no detrimental effects on the downward displacement of the basal maxilla or on palatal remodeling in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate.
Liao
Yu-Fang
YF
Department of Dentistry, Craniofacial Center, and Sleep Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Mars
Michael
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000473:pathology; D002508:Cephalometry; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000473:pathology; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007574:Jaw Relation Record; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology; D008445:Maxillofacial Development / Q000502:physiology; D010159:Palate / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology; D019291:Skull Base / Q000473:pathology