Cervical vertebral maturation of children with orofacial clefts

Assessment of Skeletal Maturation in Nonsyndromic Cleft and Non-cleft Children-A Comparative Study

The study aims to determine the difference in the skeletal maturation of unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and non-cleft children. This study also attempts to determine sexual dimorphism in attaining skeletal maturation between UCLP and non-cleft children. This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study. The total sample consisted of the lateral cephalogram of 131 UCLP (62 female and 71 male) children and 500 (274 female and 226 male) non-cleft children. The reviewer used the Baccetti method (2005) to review all the cephalograms for the cervical vertebrae maturation (CVM) stages. T -test was used to compare the mean chronological age and skeletal maturation of cleft and non-cleft children at each CVM stage. There was no significant difference in the mean chronological age and skeletal maturation status of UCLP and non-cleft children. There was no significant difference in skeletal maturation based on sex. The intraobserver assessment showed 80% and 85% kappa agreement, signifying absolute agreement. The correlation coefficient between chronological age and CVMIs was 0.86 ( P <0.001) in cleft children and 0.76 ( P <0.001) in non-cleft children, which was highly significant. The study indicates no significant difference in the skeletal maturation of UCLP and non-cleft children and no sex-related difference.

Differences in craniofacial morphology between platybasic and nonplatybasic patients with velopharyngeal dysfunction and control subjects

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to identify the characteristics of cranial-base morphology in platybasic and nonplatybasic patients with palatal anomalies and velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) compared with control subjects to investigate structural factors related to craniofacial morphology that affect the nasopharyngeal space and may influence velopharyngeal function, and to develop precise treatments for specific patients with VPD.

METHODS

Three hundred eighty-six patients with VPD and various palatal anomalies were studied retrospectively. The control group included 126 healthy patients with normal speech. Lateral cephalometric images assessed craniofacial morphology.

RESULTS

Nonplatybasic patients and control subjects had larger SNA, S-Ba-Ptm, and N-Ba-PP angles (in the craniomaxillary complex), and platybasic patients had larger nasopharyngeal ANS-Ptm-Ve and Ba-S-Ptm angles and longer Ve-T and Ve-Ba distances than the nonplatybasic patients. All study patients had larger ANB, Gn-Go-Ar, and PP-MP angles (in the craniomandibular complex). Nonplatybasic patients had smaller Ba-SN angles than platybasic patients and controls because of more acute N-S-Ptm angle. Among the nonplatybasic patients, Ve-T length tended to be shorter (with no significant difference between groups) and located more inferiorly (because of the smallest ANS-Ptm-Ve angle) in relation to the maxilla. Thus, the nasopharynx was narrower horizontally but longer vertically than in patients with platybasia.

CONCLUSIONS

Cranial-base flexure influences the shape of the skull base and facial-skeletal structure and may alter the pharyngeal space between them. This finding should help improve preoperative planning regarding the effect of the pharyngeal flap height relative to the nasopharynx and oropharynx ratio that affects surgical outcomes, such as resonance and residual VPD. In patients with Class III malocclusion and maxillary constriction, careful planning of presurgical orthodontic treatment is needed in maxillary advancement procedures. Orthodontic and surgical collaboration can help prevent postoperative VPD, especially in platybasic patients.

Skeletal Maturation in Patients With Cleft Lip and/or Palate: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence regarding skeletal maturation in patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and to investigate whether the skeletal maturation is delayed in these patients.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

Electronic and manual searches of scientific literature were conducted in 4 databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science). Cohort studies that compared the skeletal maturation of patients with CL/P with that of children without CL/P were eligible for inclusion. The quality of included cohort studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS

Patients of any sex and ethnicity with CL/P and children without CL/P were included in this systematic review.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Difference in skeletal maturation between patients with CL/P and patients without CL/P.

RESULTS

Thirteen retrospective cohort studies were included in this systematic review. Ten studies were considered of high quality and 3 were considered of general quality. The results of the included studies comparing skeletal maturation of patients with CL/P and children without CL/P were heterogeneous.

CONCLUSION

Heterogeneity of skeletal maturation assessment methods, chronological age, sex, cleft type, and race may influence the final results of clinical studies on skeletal maturation in patients with CL/P. Overall, there is limited evidence to determine whether the skeletal maturation level of patients with CL/P is delayed compared to that of normal children. Further studies are needed to determine the skeletal maturation patterns in patients with CL/P.

Assessment of craniofacial maturation in preadolescents with cleft lip and/or palate using the cervical vertebral maturation method

OBJECTIVES

Aberrant growth of the maxillomandibular complex in patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) can be managed with dentofacial orthopaedics. However, no consensus has been reached regarding timing and evolution of the maturational stages. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine if patients with CL/P have an increased risk for delayed craniofacial maturation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A sample of 246 cleft patients and 210 non-affected individuals was retrospectively compiled. Cephalometric radiographs taken between the ages of 10 and 14 years (girls) and 12 and 16 years (boys) were collected and assessed with the cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) method.

RESULTS

In boys, no significant association between the presence of CL/P and a CVM score of CS3 or higher was observed in any age subsample. This was similar for a CVM score of CS5 or higher. Girls in the CL/P group had a significant lower probability of having a CVM score of at least CS3 in the subsample with age 11 to 12 (p = 0.001) and a borderline non-significant lower probability of having a CVM score of at least CS5 in the subsample with age 12 to 13 (p = 0.055).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study demonstrated a discrete delay in skeletal maturation before the pubertal growth spurt of (pre)adolescents with CL/P, especially girls. This delay was less apparent at the end of the pubertal growth spurt.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This research suggests that the craniofacial maturational stages relevant for dentofacial orthopaedic treatment in cleft patients, especially girls, occur at higher chronological age. Further research must quantify this delay, investigate its clinical significance, and determine its effect on the timing of dentofacial orthopaedic treatment.

Do Patients With Cleft Lip and Palate Differ From Normal Individuals in Skeletal Maturity?

Orthopedic treatment to improve deficient maxillary growth of cleft lip and palate patients is an important part of treatment. The success of this treatment is strongly dependent on the time of initiation of therapy. There has been a large controversy in the available literature regarding the skeletal age of these patients. The aim of the present study was to compare the skeletal age of cleft lip and palate patients with normal individuals.37 unilateral and 14 bilateral cleft lip and palate patients and 47 healthy individuals participated in this cross-sectional study. The patients were classified into 8 to 10 and 11 to 14-year-old individuals. Cervical vertebral maturational stage of participants was evaluated in the lateral cephalometry. The skeletal age of cleft lip and palate patients was compared with normal controls. Chi-square was used for statistical analysis. There was not a significant difference in the skeletal developmental stage of unilateral and bilateral cleft compared to their normal peers according to their age and sex. Also, significant difference in skeletal maturational stage of cleft lip and palate patients was not found between boys and girls (P = 0.8). Similarly, no significant difference was found in the skeletal age of the 3 studied groups without considering the age and sex of participants (P = 0.5). Regarding the similar skeletal maturational stage of cleft lip and palate patients with normal controls in our study, their maxillofacial orthopedic treatment can be initiated at similar time to normal peers.

[Association between cervical vertebral maturation stages and dental calcification stages in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate]

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between dental calcification stages (DCS) and cervical vertebral maturation stages (CVMS) in patients with unilateral complete cleft lips and palates (UCLP) and to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment time selection of cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients.

METHODS

A total of 123 UCLP patients and 215 non-CLP subjects were selected. The DCS of the left mandibular canine, premolar, and second molar in non-CLP subjects and on both cleft sides of UCLP patients were assessed utilizing the Demirjian method. CVMS was observed utilizing the Baccetti method. The results were analyzed by Spearman rank correlation, and the correlation coefficients were compared.

RESULTS

There was a correlation between the CVMS and the DCS of the left mandibular canine, the first premolar, the second premolar, and the second molar in the non-CLP subjects and on both cleft sides of the UCLP patients (r=0.762-0.864, P<0.05; r=0.809-0.914, P<0.05, respectively). The correlation between the CVMS and the DCS of the mandibular first premolar was highest among the UCLP patients. Except for the first and the second premolars of UCLP females, the correlation between the DCS and the CVMS of the other teeth did not differ among the non-CLP subjects (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

DCS can be utilized as a biological index to determine the growth development statuses. The correlation between the CVMS and the DCS of the mandibular first premolar was the highest.

Prevalence of cervical vertebrae anomalies in patients with cleft lip and palate

Objective

To investigate the prevalence of cervical vertebral anomalies (CVA) in a group of patients presenting with cleft lip and palate (CLP) and to compare with a non-cleft population.

Material and methods

The sample comprised of 150 lateral cephalograms of non-syndromic patients with CLP and 150 non-cleft age-matched controls. The age range of both groups covered 6 to 20 years. An expert radiologist blinded to the cleft status evaluated the cephalograms for CVA and categorised them into normal, fusion, dehiscence and multiple cervical anomalies. The cleft group was subdivided according to the types of cleft (UCLP/ BCLP/ CPO) and gender (male/female). The CVA prevalence was compared between the cleft and non-cleft patients.

Results

The prevalence of CVA was 37.7% and 20.7% in cleft and non-cleft patients, respectively. The difference was statistically significant with a p-value <0.01. Of the types of clefts, a left UCLP had the highest prevalence of CVA (47.2%), with fusion (35.8%) most commonly seen. On comparing CLP with CPO, no significant variation was observed between the types of anomalies.

Conclusions

A high prevalence of CVA was observed in cleft patients compared with non-cleft subjects. The prevalence of CVA was similar between males and females. The practitioner should carefully evaluate the lateral cephalogram of CLP patients for CVA, which otherwise may remain undetected and lead to neurological symptoms later in life.

The Difference in Cervical Vertebral Skeletal Maturation between Cleft Lip/Palate and Non-Cleft Lip/Palate Orthodontic Patients

Objective

The aim was to evaluate differences in the cervical vertebral skeletal maturity of unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and non-cleft lip/palate (non-CLP) Saudi male orthodontic patients.

Method

This cross-sectional multicenter study took place at the dental school, King Saud University and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between October 2014 and September 2015. The records of Saudi male orthodontic patients with UCLP (n = 69) were collected. Cervical vertebral maturation was assessed using their cephalometric radiographs. The records of 138 age-matched non-CLP Saudi male orthodontic patients served as controls.

Results

There was a significant difference in skeletal maturity between the UCLP and non-CLP groups, as evident in the delayed skeletal development among the UCLP participants. Moreover, pubertal growth spurt onset was significantly earlier in the non-cleft participants in comparison with the UCLP participants (p = 0.009).

Conclusions

There is delayed skeletal maturity among the UCLP Saudi male population in comparison with their non-CLP age-matched peers.

Cervical vertebral maturation of female children with orofacial clefts

Objective : To evaluate the skeletal maturation of girls with orofacial clefts using the cervical vertebral maturation method. Design : Case-control study. Setting : The School of Stomatology, Peking University. Patients : A total of 173 girls with cleft lip and/or palate from 8 to 16 years old were compared with 1038 age-matched girls without clefts. Results : In the 8- to 9-year-olds, most of the girls from both groups were in cervical stage 1. In the 14- to 15-year-olds and 15- to 16-year-olds, almost all the girls from both groups were in cervical stages 5 and 6, and most of the 15- to 16-year-old girls were in cervical stage 6. Differences existed in each year for 9- to 14-year-olds, which was confirmed by statistical analysis. After ordinal logistical regression of data from girls 9 to 14 years of age, girls of the same age in the non-cleft lip and/or palate group were associated with 1.559 times the odds of having achieved higher cervical stages than those in the cleft lip and/or palate group. Most girls without cleft lip and/or palate were in cervical stages 3 and 4 in the 11- to 12-year-olds; whereas, it was not so obvious in the girls with cleft lip and/or palate. By the age of 12, girls with cleft lip and/or palate had 2.667 times the risk of delayed cervical stage 3, and the 95% confidence interval for the odds ratio was 1.013 to 7.019. Conclusions : Girls with cleft lip and/or palate are at a higher risk of delayed pubertal growth.