Effects of early and late cheiloplasty on anterior part of maxillary dental arch development in infants with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate

What Are the Effects on Palate of Early Lip Surgery in Children With Cleft Lip and Palate? Cross-Sectional Evaluation From 5-Year-Old

This study aimed to evaluate the postsurgical effects from 5 years on the palate after surgical repair of the lip at 3 or 9 months of age in children with cleft lip and palate. Eighty-four digitized dental impressions were divided into the following groups: group 1 (G1): lip surgery at 3 months of life; group 2 (G2): lip surgery at 9 months of life; group 3 (G3): without orofacial cleft. Five angular (C'IC, ICM, IC'M', CMM', and C'M'M) and 3 linear parameters (C-C', c-c', and M-M') were evaluated. Statistical analysis was applied with α=5%. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient was significantly smaller in G1 than in G3 ( P =0.005), while IC'M' was significantly smaller in G3 than in G1 ( P <0.001). C'M'M was significantly smaller in G1 than in G2 and G3 ( P <0.001). The distances C-C' and c-c' were significantly smaller in G1 than in G2 and G3 ( P <0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in both G1 and G2 ( P <0.001, in all) in the analysis of palatal symmetry. Linear regression analysis showed that the, 11.2% of outcomes determined by c-c' distance can be explained by the age of lip repair ( P =0.013). In conclusion, lip surgery at 3 months of life showed a tendency toward more restriction in 5-year postsurgery palate development. The age of cheiloplasty is one of the factors that can influence palatal development; however, other factors may be associated and should be studied.

Favorable Transverse Maxillary Development after Covering the Lateral Raw Surfaces with Buccal Fat Flaps in Modified Furlow Palatoplasty: A 3D Imaging-Assisted Long-Term Comparative Outcome Study

BACKGROUND

The pedicled buccal fat flap has recently been applied to cover the lateral raw surfaces during palatoplasty as an attempt to mitigate scar-induced transverse maxillary constriction during growth, but with no formal long-term comparative analysis. This 3D imaging-assisted study assessed its impact on posterior transverse maxillary development.

METHODS

Cone beam computerized tomography scans from patients with unilateral cleft lip, alveolus and palate who received buccal fat flap (buccal fat group; n=22) or Surgicel (Surgicel group; n=32) for covering lateral raw surfaces during modified Furlow palatoplasty at 9-10 months old and had reached 9 years old were retrieved for analysis. Patients with unilateral cleft lip and alveolus (non-palatoplasty group; n=24) were also included for comparison. Using 3D maxillary image models, linear (U6T-MSP and U6J-MSP) and area measurements were calculated for cleft and non-cleft posterior maxillary sides as well as for total posterior transverse maxillary dimension.

RESULTS

The buccal fat group had significantly (all p<0.05) wider dimensions compared with the Surgicel group for all transverse maxillary measurements on both the cleft and non-cleft sides, with exception for U6J-MSP and posterior palatal area parameters on the cleft side (p>0.05). The buccal fat group had significantly (all p<0.05) wider total transverse maxillary dimensions compared with Surgicel and non-palatoplasty groups.

CONCLUSION

Covering the lateral raw surfaces with buccal fat flaps resulted in less posterior transverse maxillary constriction compared with the Surgicel-based covering procedure.

Superior Orbicularis Oris Muscle Activity in Children Surgically Treated for Bilateral Complete Cleft Lip and Palate

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the electromyographic activity of the superior orbicularis oris muscle both in children surgically treated for bilateral complete cleft lip and palate (BCCLP) as well as in subjects without BCCLP. The study comprised 77 children aged 6.6 to 12.5 years. All the patients with clefts had previously undergone lip and palate surgery. The upper lip electromyographic (EMG) assessments were made with a DAB-Bluetooth device (Zebris Medical GmbH, Germany) at rest, while swallowing saliva, protruding lips and compressing lips. EMG measurements were also made when the subjects produced phonemes /p/, /b/, and /m/ with the vowel /a/. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to statistically analyze the EMG values. Significantly higher median upper lip EMG activity under working conditions such as swallowing saliva, lip compression, and production of the phoneme /p/ with the vowel /a/ was observed in patients with BCCLP compared to those without a cleft. The results of the study showed that the upper lip muscle activity increases in children with BCCLP when swallowing saliva, compressing lips and during some speech movement tasks. This may be important in the aspect of the effect of surgical lip repair on the craniofacial growth.

Palatal growth changes in newborns with unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate from birth until 12 months after early neonatal cheiloplasty using morphometric assessment

OBJECTIVES

To compare palatal growth changes in infants with complete unilateral (UCLP) or bilateral (BCLP) cleft lip and palate during the first year of life.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Upper dental arches of 68 neonates with UCLP and BCLP were evaluated using 2D and 3D morphometry based on dental casts obtained in two age categories (T0 before early neonatal cheiloplasty-UCLP 4 ± 3 days, BCLP 6 ± 5 days; T1 before palatoplasty-UCLP 10 ± 2 months, BCLP 12 ± 3 months).

RESULTS

Intensive palatal growth was manifested in both directions of the palate. Palatal growth in the anterior direction was not restricted, despite the intercanine (CC´) and anterior (LL´) widths being significantly narrowed in the BCLP group (CC´ p = 0.019, LL´ p = 0.009). The posterior dental arches were significantly enlarged (UCLP p ≤ 0.001; BCLP p ≤ 0.001). The negative effect of cleft severity on palatal length was not confirmed (p = 0.802). Variability of the palate was immense mainly in BCLP infants (T0); however, it decreased in both cleft types, confirming the formative effect of palatal growth leading to alveolar cleft closure (UCLP p ≤ 0.001; BCLP p = 0.006 on the right, 0.005 on the left).

CONCLUSIONS

Both analyzed cleft groups (UCLP, BCLP) grew favorably during the first year of life, and the palatal growth was not limited in any direction.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Geometric morphometry allowed a comprehensive analysis of the palate, which can contribute to the improvement of surgical methods.

Duration of Surgery, Ventilation, and Length of Hospital Stay Do Not Affect Breastfeeding in Newborns After Early Cleft Lip Repair

OBJECTIVE

There are minimal data available on nutrition after early repair of cleft lip and the factors influencing initiation of breastfeeding. This study assessed the impact of the length of surgery, length of ventilation support, and duration of hospital stay on breastfeeding rates after early cleft lip surgery.

DESIGN

This is a prospective observational cohort study comparing 2 hospitals providing early surgical repair of facial clefts from January 2014 to December 2016. Both hospitals are designated as Baby-Friendly Hospitals. Demographic and anthropometric data from mothers and newborns were recorded.

SETTING

Tertiary neonatal and pediatric surgery center.

PATIENTS

Hospital A: 61 newborns, Hospital B: 157 newborns.

INTERVENTIONS

Early (day 5 to 14) cheiloplasty in newborns with cleft lip or cleft lip and palate.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Influence of duration of hospital stay, length of operation, and artificial ventilation on the rate of breastfeeding.

RESULTS

Significantly, more newborns were breastfed following early surgical repair of an isolated cleft lip compared to those with both cleft lip and palate, in both hospitals (hospital A 82% vs 0%, P = .0001, hospital B 66% vs 5%, P = .0001). Duration of hospital stay, length of operation, and duration of artificial ventilation did not significantly affect the rate of breastfeeding.

CONCLUSIONS

The factors associated with early cleft lip repair (length of operation, length of ventilation support, and duration of hospital stay) do not affect breastfeeding rate.

Dentoalveolar Arch Dimensions in UCLP Boys After Neonatal Cheiloplasty or After Lip Surgery at the Age of 3 or 6 Months

OBJECTIVE

To compare the influence of 3 different time protocols of cleft lip and palate operations on the growth of the dentoalveolar arch in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated 64 plaster casts of 8-year-old boys with UCLP operated on according to 3 different time protocols: lip repair at the age of 6 months and palate repair at 4 years, lip repair at 3 months and palate repair at 9 months, and neonatal lip repair and palate repair at 9 months. The control group contained 13 plaster casts of 8-year-old boys. The dentoalveolar arch width was measured between deciduous canines and between the second deciduous molars; the length was measured between incisive papilla and the line connecting both tuber maxillae.

RESULTS

All measured distances were statistically significantly smaller in boys with UCLP than in the control group. Intercanine width was not statistically significantly different between the patients operated on according to the different time protocols. In comparison to the lip repair at 6 months and palate repair at 4 years, the intermolar width was statistically significantly smaller in the group with neonatal lip repair; the alveolar arch length was statistically significantly shorter in both groups with lip repair performed neonatally or at 3 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The length of the dentoalveolar arch is shorter after surgical repair of cleft lip neonatally or at the age of 3 months. Cleft palate repair at 9 months can contribute to a reduction in the width of the dentoalveolar arch.

Breastfeeding After Early Repair of Cleft Lip in Newborns With Cleft Lip or Cleft Lip and Palate in a Baby-Friendly Designated Hospital

BACKGROUND

Goals of treatment of orofacial cleft are to improve feeding, speech, hearing, and facial appearance. Early surgery brings faster healing, better cosmetic effect, and fewer complications. Breastfeeding rates after early surgery are unknown. Early repair of the cleft lip may influence breastfeeding rates. Research aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate breastfeeding after early repair of the cleft lip in a Baby-Friendly designated hospital. The rate of breastfeeding in newborns with cleft lip was compared to cleft lip and palate.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study. The study group included infants with cleft lip and cleft lip and palate operated on in the first 2 weeks of life. Newborns and their mothers were supported by a team promoting breastfeeding.

RESULTS

One hundred four infants (70 boys and 34 girls) were included. Isolated cleft lip was present in 56 (53.8%) infants, and cleft lip and palate in 48 (46.2%). Forty-four (78.6%) of the infants with a cleft lip were breastfed, 3 (5.4%) received human milk via bottle or syringe, and 9 (16.0%) were formula fed. Three (6.2%) of the infants with a cleft lip and palate were breastfed, 31 (64.6%) received human milk via bottle or Haberman feeder, and 14 (29.2%) were formula fed.

CONCLUSION

The rate of breastfeeding in patients following early surgery of the cleft lip was high and comparable to the general population. The rate of breastfeeding in babies with cleft lip and palate after early repair of the cleft lip remained low.