Mandibular Morphology and Spatial Position following One-Stage Simultaneous Repair of Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Effect of cleft lip palate repair on craniofacial growth

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare craniofacial growth among operated and unoperated unilateral cleft lip and palate non-syndromic subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A sample of 180 subjects of Indian origin was selected. Of them, 90 were operated, and 90 were unoperated complete unilateral cleft lip and palate individuals. The subjects were divided into three age groups of 3-5, 8-10, and 20-25 years comprised of 30 patients in each group. The following measurements were evaluated: Angle and length of the cranial base; maxillary spatial positioning and length; mandibular spatial positioning; morphology and length; maxillomandibular relationship. Comparative analysis of the means between the groups was performed with Student's t-test at the significance levels of 5%. The ANOVA test has been performed to test the effect of time.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed between the measurements that represented the angle and length of the cranial base of unoperated and the operated patients (P>0.05). There was statistically significant decrease (P˂0.05) in the maxillary length (Co-A; 69.00 mm in 3-5 years, 68.33 mm in 8-10 years, and 67.17 mm in 20-25 years age group), and SNA angle (74.83° in 3-5 years, 74.17 ° in 8-10 years and 73.17 ° in 20-25 years age group) in operated group. No significant difference noticed on cephalometric values of the mandible, except Ar-Go-Me angle (P˂0.05), which showed vertical growth pattern in unoperated patients (132.50 ° in 3-5 years, 132.00 ° I 8-10 years and 138.33 ° in 20-25 years age group).

CONCLUSION

Lip and palate repair has a significant influence on the maxilla and resulting in retarded growth of maxilla, which causes midface deficiency beyond acceptable sagittal limits. The Gonial angle showed vertical growth pattern in unoperated patients, but the cranial base angle and length of unoperated and the operated patients were similar.

Parental satisfaction in Ugandan children with cleft lip and palate following synchronous lip and palatal repair

The purpose of the present case control study was to assess parental satisfaction with speech and facial appearance in Ugandan children with complete unilateral or bilateral cleft lip and palate (CLP), who underwent a synchronous lip and palatal closure. The results are compared with an age- and gender-matched control group. The experimental group consisted of the parents or guardians of 44 Ugandan patients (21 males, 23 females) with complete unilateral or bilateral CLP (mean age: 3;1 years). The control group included the foster mothers of 44 orphan children matched by age and gender (mean age: 3;7 years). A survey based on the Cleft Evaluation Profile was used to assess the perceived satisfaction for individual features related to cleft care. Overall high levels of satisfaction were observed in the experimental group for all features (range: 56-100%). No significant differences could be established regarding age, gender, age of lip and palatal closure, cleft type or maternal vs. paternal judgments. In participants who were dissatisfied with the appearance of the lip, the time period between the cleft closure and the survey was significantly larger compared with satisfied participants. Furthermore, significantly lower levels of satisfaction were observed in the cleft group for speech and the appearance of the teeth and the nose compared with the control group. Satisfaction with speech and facial appearance in Ugandan children with cleft lip and/or palate is important since normal esthetics and speech predominantly determine the children's social acceptance in the Ugandan society.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

As a result of reading this manuscript, the reader will be able to explain the attitudes of parents toward the surgical repair of their children's cleft lip and palate. As a result of reading this manuscript, the reader will be able to identify differences in parental attitudes toward synchronous lip and palate repair.

Midfacial Growth in a Consecutive Series of Preadolescent Children with Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate following a One-Stage Simultaneous Repair

Objective:

To evaluate midfacial growth in prepubertal children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate following one-stage simultaneous repair.

Subjects:

A series of 28 consecutively treated subjects with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate were compared with age- and gender-matched controls with normal midfacial structure.

Methods:

On the lateral cephalograms taken at the age of approximately 10 years, size and position of the maxilla and upper dental arch were evaluated in vertical and horizontal planes. Statistical analysis included independent t tests and nonparametric Mann-Whitney tests.

Results:

The maxilla was found to be retruded (sella-nasion-point A angle decreased by 4.5° and nasion to point A distance increased by 4.2 mm) and rotated posteriorly (sella-nasion/palatal plane angle decreased by 4.5°) in the cleft group. Maxillary length (pterygomaxillare-point A distance) was diminished by approximately 2 mm. Upper incisors were found retroclined in comparison to controls (both upper incisor axis/sella-nasion and upper incisor axis/palatal plane angles were decreased by 10.7° and 6.1°, respectively).

Conclusion:

Maxillary prominence, as measured with the sella-nasion-point A angle and the condylion-point A and articulare-point A distances, was decreased. Shortened length and posterior position of the maxillary body were responsible at a ratio of 60% to 40% for a decreased prominence of the maxillary complex. The palatal plane demonstrated a larger inclination to the sella-nasion plane by 4.5° due to a decreased sella-posterior nasal spine distance.