Long-term follow-up after maxillary distraction osteogenesis in growing children with cleft lip and palate.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the changes in maxillary position after maxillary distraction osteogenesis in six growing children with cleft lip and palate.


METHODS
Retrospective, longitudinal study on maxillary changes at A point, anterior nasal spine, posterior nasal spine, central incisor, and first molar.


METHODS
The University Hospital Craniofacial Center.


METHODS
Cephalometric radiographs were used to measure the maxillary position immediately after distraction, at 6 months, and more than 1 year after distraction.


RESULTS
After maxillary distraction with a rigid external distraction device, the maxilla (A point) on average moved forward 9.7 mm and downward 3.5 mm immediately after distraction, moved backward 0.9 mm and upward 2.0 mm after 6 months postoperatively, and then moved further backward 2.3 mm and downward 6.8 mm after more than 1 year from the predistraction position.


CONCLUSIONS
In most cases, maxilla moved forward at distraction and started to move backward until 1 year after distraction, but remained forward, as compared with predistraction position. Maxilla also moved downward during distraction and upward in 6 months, but started descending in 1 year. There also was no further forward growth of the maxilla after distraction in growing children with clefts.
Huang
Chiung-Shing
CS
Craniofacial Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. sshuang@ms1.hinet.net
Harikrishnan
Pandurangan
P
Liao
Yu-Fang
YF
Ko
Ellen W C
EW
Liou
Eric J W
EJ
Chen
Philip K T
PK
D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000254:growth & development / Q000601:surgery*; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000379:methods*; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome