title: Photometric Evaluation of Soft Tissue Changes in CLP Patients: Le Fort I Advancement Osteotomy (ALO) Versus Anterior Maxillary Distraction (AMD).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper is a comparative photometric evaluation of soft tissue changes in patients with CLP associated with maxillary deficiency treated with conventional Le Fort I advancement osteotomy (ALO) and anterior maxillary distraction (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with maxillary hypoplasia associated with cleft lip and palate who had undergone either LeFort I osteotomy or distraction osteogenesis with maxillary advancement were included in this study. Frontal and profile photographs were used to ascertain the changes post-surgically. Photographs were obtained before treatment and 1 year after surgical correction in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vertical as well as horizontal changes in pronasale was well observed in both groups. A substantial increase in nasal parameters was noted in case of AMD group in comparison to ALO group. Though maxillary advancement was quite evident in AMD and ALO groups, a significant and consistent change was observed in AMD group. Significant vertical and horizontal changes were seen with respect to subnasale and labrale superius in AMD group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hard and soft tissue changes produced by AMD by intra oral distractors were being evaluated so far. The results of the above studies have proved the excellence of AMD over conventional osteotomies. The present study goes hand in hand with the research outcomes till date.
authors.affiliation: Mar Baselios Dental College, Kothamangalam, Ernakulam, 686691 Kerala India.
authors.forename: Joby
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paulose
authors.affiliation: Mar Baselios Dental College, Kothamangalam, Ernakulam, 686691 Kerala India.
authors.forename: Eldho
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Markose
keywords: Anterior maxillary distraction; Cleft lip; Maxillary hypoplasia; Palate; Photometric analysis