title: Prospective analysis of secondary alveolar bone grafting in cleft lip and palate patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the success of the uptake of bone graft in cleft alveolus of the cleft lip and palate patients, quantitatively through computed tomography (CT) scan 6 months postoperative. To assess the successful eruption of permanent lateral incisor or canine in the bone grafted area.
  
  
  METHODS
  The children age group of 9-21 years with unilateral cleft lip and palate came to the hospital, needing secondary alveolar bone grafting. A detailed history and clinical examination of the patient was taken. A 3D CT scan was taken and the volume of the cleft was measured pre-operatively. After ambulatory period, 3D CT scan of the alveolar cleft region was taken and volume of the bone grafted was measured and patient was discharged from the hospital. After 6 months, patient was recalled and again 3D CT scan was taken and the volume of remaining bone was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean volume of the defect pre-operatively is 0.80 cm(3) with a standard deviation of 0.36 cm(3) with minimum volume of the defect 0.44 cm(3) and maximum volume of the defect 1.60 cm(3). The mean volume of the bone post-operative immediately after grafting is 1.01 cm(3) with a standard deviation of 0.52 cm(3) with minimum of bone volume is 0.48 cm(3) and maximum of 2.06 cm(3). The mean volume of the bone after 6 months after bone grafting is 0.54 cm(3) with a standard deviation of 0.33 cm(3), minimum bone volume of 0.22 cm(3) and maximum bone volume of 1.42 cm(3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CT scan is a valuable radiographic imaging modality to assess and follow the clinical outcome of secondary alveolar bone grafting.
authors.affiliation: Professor & Head, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, CKS Theja Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: M Gokul Chandra
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, CKS Theja Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: V Ramesh
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.affiliation: Sr. Lecturer, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, CKS Theja Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: V Eswar
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Narayana CKS Theja Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: J Jaya
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chaitanya
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Narayana Dental College Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allareddy
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, CKS Theja Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: C Charan Kumar
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Reddy
keywords: Alveolar bone grafting; Volume; cleft; computed tomography