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Objective: Segmental Le Fort I osteotomy through the cleft is a common strategy to narrow the alveolar cleft in adults. This study compared skeletal stability between single and segmental Le Fort I osteotomies in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP)., Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis examined 45 adults with complete UCLP-associated class III deformities who underwent bimaxillary surgery with either single (n = 30) or segmental (n = 15) Le Fort I advancement. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of the facial skeleton were acquired before surgery, 1-week postsurgery, and at follow-up. Measures of landmarks from the CBCT images for the two treatment groups were compared for translation (left/right, posterior/anterior, superior/inferior) and rotation (yaw, roll, pitch)., Results: Postsurgery, the downward movement of the maxilla was larger in the segmental group than the single group. At follow-up, the maxilla moved backward in both groups, and upward in the segmental group. The mandible moved forward and upward and rotated upward in both groups. The amount of upward movement and rotation was larger in the segmental group than the single group., Conclusions: Two years after bimaxillary surgery in patients with UCLP-associated class III deformity, greater relapse was found after segmental Le Fort I osteotomies in vertical translation of the maxilla and mandible, and pitch rotation of the mandible compared with single Le Fort I osteotomies., Clinical Relevance: The vertical relapse of the maxilla was larger after segmental Le Fort I advancement compared with single Le Fort I advancement in clefts., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Although several studies have reported the advantages of the surgery-first approach for orthognathic correction of class III deformity, there is no report of the success of this approach for patients with cleft lip and palate. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability and outcome of bimaxillary surgery for cleft-related dentofacial deformity using a surgery-first approach., Methods: Forty-one patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate who consecutively underwent Le Fort I and bilateral sagittal split osteotomies for skeletal class III deformity were included. Cone-beam computed tomographic scans before surgery, 1 week after surgery, and after orthodontic treatment were used to measure the surgical and postsurgical changes in jaw position by landmarks, and outcomes of jaw protrusion and relation, incisor angle and occlusion, and menton deviation after treatment. Self-report questionnaires regarding satisfaction with overall appearance of the face and seven facial regions were administered after treatment., Results: A clinically insignificant relapse was found in the maxilla (<1 mm) and mandible (<2 mm). There was a significant improvement in the jaw protrusion and relation, incisor angle and occlusion, and menton deviation. Responses from the self-report questionnaires completed after treatment indicated that patient satisfaction was high., Conclusion: These findings demonstrate surgical-orthodontic treatment with a surgery-first approach can successfully improve cleft-related dentofacial deformity in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, IV., (Copyright © 2023 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background: Nasoalveolar molding (NAM) has become standard treatment in the authors' craniofacial center. There are two types of presurgical NAM: the Grayson and Figueroa techniques. The Grayson method involves active alveolar molding, and the Figueroa method involves passive alveolar molding. The authors previously found no differences in number of clinic visits, costs, or 6-month postoperative outcome between the two techniques. The authors extended the previous study to evaluate facial growth between these two groups., Methods: In this randomized single-blind study, conducted between May of 2010 and March of 2013, the authors recruited 30 patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate and randomized them for Grayson or Figueroa presurgical NAM. Standard lateral cephalometric measurements at 5 years were used to determine facial growth., Results: Twenty-nine patients completed 5 years of follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences in facial cephalometric measurements between the two groups., Conclusion: Presurgical NAM using either a passive or active NAM technique produced similar facial growth patterns after unilateral cleft lip and palate repair., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, II., (Copyright © 2023 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Objectives: Gingivoperiosteoplasty is often used for reconstruction of alveolar defects in infants with cleft lip and palate. This study aimed to examine outcomes of tertiary gingivoperiosteoplasty, which has not previously been investigated., Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 11 adults with complete cleft lip and palate (n = 12 sites) who consecutively underwent segmental Le Fort I osteotomy and concomitant gingivoperiosteoplasty for correction of skeletal class III deformity, nasoalveolar fistula and alveolar cleft. Outcomes included clinical and radiographic evaluations of gingivoperiosteoplasty at the time of osteotomy (presence of nasoalveolar fistula, residual cleft defect and unsupported root ratio of cleft-adjacent teeth), and determination of influencing factors for the clinical success of alveolar cleft repair. Study variables included age, gender, pre-surgical orthodontic treatment and alveolar cleft width of cleft-adjacent canine and angulation between cleft-adjacent teeth before surgery and 1-week postsurgery., Results: Posttreatment, no nasoalveolar fistula remained. The residual cleft defect decreased significantly (p < 0.01). The unsupported root ratio of cleft-adjacent teeth did not differ (p > 0.05); eight cleft sites reached Bergland I or II (67% success). One-week postsurgery, the minimal alveolar cleft width of cleft-adjacent canine was significantly less in the success group compared with the failed group (p = 0.01)., Conclusions: Tertiary gingivoperiosteoplasty and segmental Le Fort I osteotomy decreased nasoalveolar fistulas and induced alveolar bone formation. The minimal alveolar cleft width immediately after surgery was the major influencing factor of clinical success., Clinical Relevance: Segmental Le Fort I osteotomy with simultaneous gingivoperiosteoplasty efficaciously repairs adult alveolar clefts., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: Some adults with cleft lip and palate (CLP) require orthognathic surgery due to skeletal deformity. This prospective study aimed to (1) compare skeletal stability following bimaxillary surgery for correction of class III deformity between patients with unilateral CLP (UCLP) and bilateral CLP (BCLP), and (2) identify risk factors of stability., Materials and Methods: Adults with CLP and skeletal class III deformities who underwent surgery-first bimaxillary surgery were divided into two groups according to cleft type: UCLP (n = 30) and BCLP (n = 30). Skeletal stability was assessed with measures from cone beam computed tomography images of the maxilla and mandible taken before treatment, 1-week and ≥ 1 year postsurgery for translation (left/right, posterior/anterior, superior/inferior) and rotation (yaw, roll, pitch); multiple regression analysis examined risk factors., Results: At follow-up, the maxilla moved upwards in both groups, and backwards in the UCLP group. The mandible moved forward and upward, shifted to the cleft (deviated) side, and rotated upward in both groups. The amount of surgical advancement was a risk factor for sagittal stability in the maxilla (ß = -0.14, p < 0.05). The mandible had three risk factors for sagittal stability: age (ß = -0.23, p < 0.05), surgical team (ß = -1.83, p < 0.05), and amount of surgical setback (ß = -0.32, p = 0.001)., Conclusions: Two years after bimaxillary surgery, patients with UCLP had a higher sagittal relapse of the maxilla compared with patients with BCLP, which was due to a greater surgical advancement in the patients with UCLP., Clinical Relevance: Surgery-first bimaxillary surgery results in favorable treatment outcomes for correction of cleft-related class III deformity. Severity of jaw discrepancy and surgeons should be considered in the surgical design of overcorrection., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: Patients with cleft lip-cleft palate (CLP) often require orthodontic treatment, with or without orthognathic surgery. Patient satisfaction is the most important outcome parameter in orthodontic treatment. This study aimed to (1) determine patient satisfaction and quality of life (QoL) after orthodontic treatment and (2) identify associated factors., Material and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study recruited patients with CLP who had completed orthodontic treatment at a craniofacial center in Taiwan. Participants (N=213) had received treatment for unilateral CLP (n=99), bilateral CLP (n=50), cleft lip and alveolus (n=39), and isolated cleft palate (n=25). Self-report questionnaires evaluated satisfaction with appearance and QoL; multiple regression analysis examined associated factors. Participants' expectations of treatment results were also reported., Results: Participants reported moderate satisfaction with facial appearance and QoL. Satisfaction with treatment was lower or much lower than expected for 13% of participants. Treatment for bilateral CLP was associated with the lowest satisfaction with overall appearance (r = -8.123, P < 0.05); participants who had received orthognathic surgery had the highest satisfaction (r = 5.534, P < 0.05). Treatment for unilateral and bilateral CLP was associated with low QoL for smile (both P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Orthodontic treatment had a positive effect on facial appearance and quality of life in patients with CLP. Type of cleft and orthognathic surgery significantly influenced satisfaction with facial appearance., Clinical Relevance: Efforts must be taken to modify treatment strategies for patients with bilateral CLP in order to improve satisfaction with appearance following treatment., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Cleft lip and palate is the most common congenital craniofacial anomaly. Up to 60% of these patients will benefit from cleft orthognathic surgery, which consists primarily of maxillary advancement and mandibular setback to address midface retrusion and relative mandibular protrusion, respectively. It is believed that maxillary advancement can enlarge the airway whilst mandibular setback can reduce the airway, but this has not previously been quantified for cleft patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. This unique longitudinal prospective study of 18 patients was conducted between April 2013 and July 2016. No significant changes occurred by six months postoperatively in body mass index, apnoea-hypopnoea index or lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT). There was a mean increase of 0.73 cm 3 in velopharyngeal volume, a mean decrease of 0.79 cm 3 in oropharyngeal volume, an improvement in snoring index, and no statistically significant change in hypopharyngeal volume. In conclusion, cleft orthognathic surgery that produced anterior advancement of the maxilla, setback of the mandible and clockwise rotation of the maxillo-mandibular complex resulted in increased velopharyngeal, decreased oropharyngeal and unchanged hypopharyngeal airways, and improved snoring, but did not significantly alter objective sleep-related breathing function.

Presurgical orthodontic treatment before secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) is widely performed for cleft lip/palate patients. However, no randomized controlled trial has been published comparing SABG outcomes in patients with, and without, presurgical orthodontic treatment. This randomized, prospective, single-blinded trial was conducted between January 2012 and April 2015 to compare ABG volumes 6 months postoperatively between patients with and without presurgical orthodontic treatment. Twenty-four patients were enrolled and randomized and 22 patients completed follow-up. Patients who had presurgical orthodontics before SABG had significantly improved inclination (p < 0.001) and rotation (p < 0.001) of the central incisor adjacent to the defect, significantly improved ABG fill volume (0.81 ± 0.26 cm(3) at 6 months compared to 0.59 ± 0.22 cm(3); p < 0.05) and less residual alveolar bone defect (0.31 ± 0.08 cm(3) at 6 months compared to s 0.55 ± 0.14 cm(3); p < 0.001) compared to patients who did not have presurgical orthodontic treatment. In conclusion, orthodontic treatment combined with SABG results in superior bone volume when compared with conventional SABG alone.

Background: The role of primary gingivoperiosteoplasty in the repair of alveolar clefts remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of primary gingivoperiosteoplasty and secondary alveolar bone grafting in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate., Methods: In this prospective study, the authors analyzed the postoperative cone-beam computed tomographic scans of 50 children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate who underwent primary gingivoperiosteoplasty (n = 25) or secondary alveolar bone grafting (n = 25). These two methods of alveolar repair were compared by measuring residual cleft defect and unsupported root ratio of cleft-adjacent central incisors on patient scans., Results: Patients who underwent repair by primary gingivoperiosteoplasty presented more need for additional bone grafting than those undergoing repair by secondary alveolar bone grafting (28 percent versus 4 percent, respectively; p < 0.05). Residual cleft defect was greater in patients who underwent repair by primary gingivoperiosteoplasty than by secondary alveolar bone grafting (305.8 ± 176.5 mm versus 178.6 ± 122.0 mm, respectively; p < 0.05). Patients who underwent repair by primary gingivoperiosteoplasty showed more residual palatal coronal and palatal apical defects than those who underwent repair by secondary alveolar bone grafting (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively)., Conclusions: In patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate, primary gingivoperiosteoplasty can achieve 72 percent success. Primary gingivoperiosteoplasty results in less bone than secondary alveolar bone grafting, particularly on the palatal apical portion of the previous alveolar cleft. Clinical success is lower with primary gingivoperiosteoplasty than with secondary alveolar bone grafting., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate progressive changes in surgical techniques and results, aiming for improved nasal shape in primary bilateral cleft rhinoplasty., Methods: This is an institutional review board-approved retrospective study. Ninety-one consecutive patients with bilateral complete cleft lip underwent primary cheiloplasty with four different techniques of nasal reconstruction from 1992 to 2007 as follows: group I, primary rhinoplasty alone; group II, nasoalveolar molding alone; group III, nasoalveolar molding plus primary rhinoplasty; group IV, nasoalveolar molding plus primary rhinoplasty with overcorrection; and group V, patients without cleft lip. The surgical results were analyzed using photographic records obtained at age 3 years. Four measurements and one angle measurement were obtained. A panel assessment was obtained to grade the appearance of the surgical results., Results: The results are expressed in order from groups I through V. The nostril height-to-width ratio was 0.49, 0.59, 0.62, 0.78, and 0.82, respectively. The nasal tip height-to-nasal width ratio was 0.29, 0.39, 0.49, 0.57, and 0.60. The columella height-to-nasal width ratio was 0.11, 0.18, 0.22, 0.27, and 0.28. The dome-to-columella ratio was 1.88, 1.25, 1.26, 1.14, and 1.10. The nostril area ratio was 1.2, 1.17, 1.13, 1.11, and 1.07. The nasolabial angle was 144.95, 143.98, 121.98, 120.99, and 100.88. Finally, group IV had the best panel assessment., Conclusions: The results revealed that group IV had the best overall result. Presurgical nasoalveolar molding followed by primary rhinoplasty with overcorrection resulted in a nasal appearance that was closer to the patients without cleft lip.

Background: Nasoalveolar molding became increasingly popular in the 1990s as a means of easing surgery and improving nasal outcomes for cleft lip repairs. In the late 1990s, three orthodontists from our center underwent nasoalveolar molding training: two at the Rush Craniofacial Center, in Chicago; and one at New York University Craniofacial Center. They brought two different nasoalveolar molding techniques back to Chang Gung Craniofacial Center: the modified Figueroa and the modified Grayson techniques. Outcomes following use of these techniques have not previously been compared prospectively., Methods: Between May of 2010 and March of 2013, a randomized, prospective, single-blind trial was conducted to compare the number of clinical visits, total costs, complications, and nasal symmetry between the two nasoalveolar molding techniques in 30 patients with unilateral complete cleft lip., Results: There were no differences between nasoalveolar molding techniques in the number of clinical visits, total costs, nostril height, or nostril area ratio. Preoperatively but after nasoalveolar molding, the nostril width ratio was wider for the Figueroa group than for the Grayson group. Six months after surgical correction, there were no differences in nostril height, nostril width, nasal sill height, or nostril area ratio between nasoalveolar molding methods. Alveolar ulceration occurred more frequently in the Grayson group., Conclusions: The modified Grayson technique reduced nostril width more efficiently, but alveolar ulceration was more frequent and no differences in nostril width were found following surgery. Overall, the two nasoalveolar molding techniques produced similar nasal outcomes., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, II.

Objective: Vomer flap repair is assumed to improve maxillary growth because of reduced scarring in growth-sensitive areas of the palate. Our aim was to evaluate whether facial growth in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate was significantly affected by the technique of hard palate repair (vomer flap versus two-flap)., Materials and Methods: For this retrospective longitudinal study, we analyzed 334 cephalometric radiographs from 95 patients with nonsyndromic complete unilateral cleft lip and palate who underwent hard palate repair by two different techniques (vomer flap versus two-flap). Clinical notes were reviewed to record treatment histories. Cephalometry was used to determine facial morphology and growth rate. The associations among facial morphology at age 20, facial growth rate, and technique of hard palate repair were assessed using generalized estimating equation analysis., Results: The hard palate repair technique significantly influenced protrusion of the maxilla (SNA: β = -3.5°, 95 % CI = -5.2-1.7; p = 0.001) and the anteroposterior jaw relation (ANB: β = -4.2°, 95 % CI = -6.4-1.9; p = 0.001; Wits: β = -5.7 mm, 95 % CI = -9.6-1.2; p = 0.01) at age 20, and their growth rates (SNA p = 0.001, ANB p < 0.01, and Wits p = 0.02)., Conclusions: The results suggest that in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate, vomer flap repair has a smaller adverse effect than two-flap on growth of the maxilla. This effect on maxillary growth is on the anteroposterior development of the alveolar maxilla and is progressive with age. We now perform hard palate closure with vomer flap followed by soft palate closure using Furlow palatoplasty., Clinical Relevance: These findings may improve treatment outcome by modifying the treatment protocol for patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

The vomer flap technique for repair of the hard palate is assumed to improve maxillary growth because it causes less scarring in growth-sensitive areas of the palate. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effect of techniques using the vomer flap compared with the palatal flap on facial growth in patients with cleft lip and palate. All papers published before 21 July 2012 were sought in the databases PubMed and MEDLINE. Search terms included "facial growth", "cleft lip and palate", "palatal repair technique", and "vomer flap". Additional studies were identified by hand searching the reference lists of the papers retrieved from the electronic search. Two independent reviewers assessed the eligibility of studies for inclusion, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of the methods. Six studies met the selection criteria. Outcomes assessed in 4 studies were dentofacial morphology after vomer or palatal flap, maxillary dental arch in 1 study, and dental arch relations in 2 studies. The quality of the methods used in 3 studies was poor. Contradictory results and a lack of high-quality and long-term outcomes of reviewed studies provided no conclusive scientific evidence about whether the vomer flap technique has more or less of an adverse effect on maxillary growth than the palatal flap. Further well-designed, well-controlled, and long-term studies particularly of the vomer flap (2-stage) and palatal flap (von Langenbeck or two-flap, 1-stage) are needed., (Copyright © 2013 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Gingivoperiosteoplasty (GPP) has produced inconsistent outcomes. The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the effects of GPP on the production of bone and maxillary growth. We analysed postoperative cone-beam computed tomographic (CT) scans and intraoral dental photographs of 25 children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) who were treated with GPP at the same time as their primary repair of the lip. Residual cleft defects and unsupported root ratios of central incisors adjacent to clefts were measured from scans. Dental arch relations were assessed from photographs using the Goslon (Great Ormond Street London and Oslo) yardstick. Eighteen children did not require secondary alveolar bone grafts. Residual cleft defects varied by site (20.4mm(3), 38.6mm(3), 88.2mm(3), and 135.2mm(3) for buccal coronal, palatal coronal, buccal apical, and palatal apical defects, respectively; p<0.001). Unsupported root ratios did not differ significantly between coronal and apical central incisors adjacent to clefts. The mean (SD) Goslon score was 4.52 (0.51). Most participants (n=18) who had a GPP did not need secondary alveolar bone grafting. GPP resulted in least bone on the palatal apical portion of the previous alveolar cleft and relatively good periodontal bony support of central incisors adjacent to the cleft. We no longer use GPP because of our concerns about maxillary growth., (Copyright © 2012 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Nasoalveolar molding is increasingly being used to treat unilateral cleft nose deformity before primary repair. The Grayson technique starts nasal molding when an alveolar gap is reduced to 5 mm, whereas the Figueroa technique performs nasal and alveolar molding at the same time. The authors investigated the comparative efficacy, efficiency, and incidence of complications of the two techniques., Methods: A blinded, retrospective study was conducted on 63 patients with complete unilateral cleft lip-cleft palate; 31 underwent the Grayson nasoalveolar molding and 32 underwent the Figueroa nasoalveolar molding. Pretreatment and posttreatment facial photographs and clinical charts were used to compare efficacy (nostril height ratio, nostril width ratio, columellar angle), efficiency (molding frequency), and incidence of complications (facial irritation, mucosal ulceration)., Results: The Grayson and Figueroa techniques did not differ in treatment efficacy for nostril height ratio (0.86 ± 0.09 versus 0.85 ± 0.09; p > 0.05) and columellar angle (84.0 ± 4.5 degrees versus 85.3 ± 2.6 degrees; p > 0.05). Although the Grayson technique was more effective for reducing nostril width ratio (1.21 ± 0.29 versus 1.27 ± 0.19, p = 0.05), it was less efficient (i.e., required more adjustments) (10.9 ± 2.5 versus 8.8 ± 1.9; p < 0.001) and had a higher incidence of mucosal ulceration (23 percent versus 3 percent; p < 0.05)., Conclusions: The two nasoalveolar molding techniques differed in efficacy, efficiency, and incidence of complications in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip-cleft and palate. Understanding these differences may help surgeons and orthodontists improve outcome expectations and consultations with patients' families., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III.

Objective: To study the relationship of cleft severity and maxillary growth in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate., Design: A systematic literature review., Methods: A literature survey from the PubMed database from January 1966 to December 2008 used the Medical Subject Headings terms facial growth, unilateral cleft lip palate, cephalometry, and cleft severity or cleft width. The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal from 1964 to November 2008 was hand searched. Studies published as full-length articles reporting quantitative data on the relationship of cleft severity and written in English were selected. Two reviewers selected and extracted the data independently and also assessed the quality of the studies., Results: Four studies met the selection criteria and were included in the review. All were retrospective and longitudinal. Quality analysis revealed medium to low level of the included studies. Heterogeneity of the studies prevented major conclusions about the relationship of a severe cleft and unfavorable maxillary forward growth., Conclusions: The review has highlighted the importance of further research. Further well-designed controlled studies and long-term studies are needed, and researchers have to consider combined assessment of cleft size and palate size. Further studies should also focus on the cleft severity at birth and at the time of palate repair.

The aim of this cross-sectional outcome study using retrospective data capture of treatment histories was to examine the characteristics of young children with unilateral cleft lip and palate who had poor dental arch relationship (i.e., Goslon 5). The study sample comprised 120 children born with nonsyndromic complete unilateral cleft lip and palate between 1995 and 2003, and were aged between 5.0 and 7.0 years (mean age, 5.1 years) at the time of data collection. The dental arch relationship was assessed using the Goslon yardstick from intraoral dental photographs. An independent investigator recorded treatment histories from the clinical notes. The inter- and intraexaminer agreements evaluated by weighted kappa statistics were high. There was no association between dental arch relationship and the type of presurgical orthopedics or pharyngeal flap. Dental arch relationship was associated with the initial cleft size (odds ratio, OR = 1.3; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.1-1.5, p < 0.01), surgeon grade for palate repair (OR = 5.0, 95% CI = 1.2-19.9, p < 0.05), and primary gingivoperiosteoplasty (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.0-8.1, p = 0.05). These data suggest that intraoral dental photographs provide a reliable method for rating dental arch relationship. Wide initial cleft, high-volume surgeon, and primary gingivoperiosteoplasty are predictors of poor dental arch relationship outcome in young children with unilateral cleft lip and palate. These findings may improve treatment outcome by modifying the treatment protocol for patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

Background: Two-stage palate repair with delayed hard palate closure is generally advocated because it allows the best possible postoperative maxillary growth. Nevertheless, in the literature, it has been questioned whether maxillary growth is better following use of this protocol. The authors therefore aimed to investigate whether stage of palate repair, one-stage versus two-stage, had a significant effect on facial growth in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate., Methods: Seventy-two patients with nonsyndromic complete unilateral cleft lip and palate operated on by two different protocols for palate repair, one-stage versus two-stage with delayed hard palate closure, and their 223 cephalometric radiographs were available in the retrospective longitudinal study. Clinical notes were reviewed to record treatment histories. Cephalometry was used to determine facial morphology and growth rate. Generalized estimating equations analysis was performed to assess the relationship between (1) facial morphology at age 20 and (2) facial growth rate, and the stage of palate repair., Results: Stage of palate repair had a significant effect on the length and protrusion of the maxilla and the anteroposterior jaw relation at age 20, but not on their growth rates., Conclusions: The data suggest that in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate, two-stage palate repair has a smaller adverse effect than one-stage palate repair on the growth of the maxilla. This stage effect is on the anteroposterior development of the maxilla and is attributable to the development being undisturbed before closure of the hard palate (i.e., hard palate repair timing specific).

Background and Purpose: The Goslon Yardstick is one of the most commonly used methods to assess dental arch relationships of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate. This system was originally applied to dental casts. For reasons of economy and convenience, we aimed to determine whether intraoral photographs could substitute for dental casts for rating dental arch relationships., Methods: Records of 58 patients with nonsyndromic complete unilateral cleft lip and palate from the Chang Gung Craniofacial Center, Taipei, Taiwan, were used in this study. A set of dental casts and digital intraoral photographs taken at around 9 years of age were available for all patients. An experienced examiner rated the dental casts using the Goslon Yardstick to provide the reference scores. The other three examiners rated the intraoral photographs and repeated the rating 1 week later to calculate inter- and intraexaminer reliability. The photographic scores for each examiner were then compared with the reference scores to determine the validity of the photographs., Results: The results showed no significant difference between the rating of dental casts and photographs using the Goslon Yardstick. Reliability was also high for rating on photographs., Conclusions: Intraoral photographs appear to be a viable alternative to the application of the Goslon Yardstick on dental casts.

Objective: To evaluate the changes in maxillary position after maxillary distraction osteogenesis in six growing children with cleft lip and palate., Design: Retrospective, longitudinal study on maxillary changes at A point, anterior nasal spine, posterior nasal spine, central incisor, and first molar., Setting: The University Hospital Craniofacial Center., Main Outcome Measure: Cephalometric radiographs were used to measure the maxillary position immediately after distraction, at 6 months, and more than 1 year after distraction., Results: After maxillary distraction with a rigid external distraction device, the maxilla (A point) on average moved forward 9.7 mm and downward 3.5 mm immediately after distraction, moved backward 0.9 mm and upward 2.0 mm after 6 months postoperatively, and then moved further backward 2.3 mm and downward 6.8 mm after more than 1 year from the predistraction position., Conclusion: In most cases, maxilla moved forward at distraction and started to move backward until 1 year after distraction, but remained forward, as compared with predistraction position. Maxilla also moved downward during distraction and upward in 6 months, but started descending in 1 year. There also was no further forward growth of the maxilla after distraction in growing children with clefts.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of timing of hard palate repair on facial growth in patients with cleft lip and palate, with special reference to cranial base, maxilla, mandible, jaw relation, and incisor relation., Design: A systematic review., Methods: The search strategy was based on the key words "facial growth," "cleft lip palate," and "timing of (hard) palate repair." Case reports, case-series, and studies with no control or comparison group in the sample were excluded., Results: Fifteen studies met the selection criteria. All the studies were retrospective and nonrandomized. Five studies used cephalometry and casts, seven used cephalometry, and three used casts. Methodological deficiencies and heterogeneity of the studies prevented major conclusions., Conclusion: The review highlights the importance of further research. Prospective well-designed, controlled studies, especially targeting long-term results, are required to elucidate the effect of timing of hard palate repair on facial growth in patients with cleft lip and palate.

Objective: To investigate whether timing of hard palate repair had a significant effect on facial growth in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP)., Design: Retrospective longitudinal study., Setting: Sri Lankan Cleft Lip and Palate Project., Patients: A total of 104 patients with nonsyndromic UCLP who had hard palate repair by age 13 years, with their 290 cephalometric radiographs taken after lip and palate repair., Main Outcome Measures: Clinical notes were used to record surgical treatment histories. Cephalometry was used to determine facial morphology and growth rate., Results: Timing of hard palate repair had a significant effect on the length and protrusion of the alveolar maxilla (PMP-A and SNA, respectively) and the anteroposterior alveolar jaw relation (ANB) at age 20 years but not on their growth rates., Conclusion: Timing of hard palate repair significantly affects the growth of the maxilla in patients with UCLP. Late hard palate repair has a smaller adverse effect than does early hard palate repair on the growth of the maxilla. This timing effect primarily affects the anteroposterior development of the maxillary dentoalveolus and is attributed to the development being undisturbed before closure of the hard palate.

Objective: To identify the long-term effects of clefts (intrinsic and functional) on craniofacial growth and to evaluate the possible association between the sizes of the cleft maxillary segment (intrinsic) and alveolar cleft (functional) and the craniofacial morphology in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP)., Design: Retrospective case-control study., Setting: Sri Lankan Cleft Lip and Palate Project., Subjects: Thirty unoperated adult patients with UCLP and 52 normal controls., Main Outcome Measures: Maxillary dental cast was used to measure the sizes of the cleft maxillary segment and alveolar cleft. Cephalometry was used to determine craniofacial morphology., Results: Patients with UCLP had shorter height of the basal maxilla, shorter posterior length of the basal maxilla, and less protruded basal maxilla at the zygomatic level than did control subjects. In patients with UCLP, the posterior height of the basal maxilla was related to the size of the cleft maxillary segment, and there was a tendency toward significant association between the anterior height of the basal maxilla and the size of the alveolar cleft., Conclusion: The adverse effects of clefts on the growth of the maxilla in patients with UCLP are restricted to the basal maxilla in size. This growth inhibition is major in height and minor in length. The reduced posterior height of the basal maxilla in unoperated patients with UCLP might be primarily attributed to intrinsic effects, whereas the reduced anterior height of the basal maxilla might be attributed to functional effects.

Objective: To identify the long-term effects of palate repair on craniofacial growth in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP)., Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study., Setting: Sri Lankan Cleft Lip and Palate Project., Subjects: Forty-eight adults with nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate, 29 men and 19 women, had lip repair only (LRO group). Fifty-eight adults with nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate, 35 men and 23 women, had lip and palate repairs by the age of 9 (LPR group)., Main Outcome Measures: Clinical notes were used to record surgical treatment histories. Cephalometry was used to determine craniofacial morphology., Results: In the lip and palate repair group, the depth of the bony pharynx (Ba-PMP), the maxillary length at the alveolar level (PMP-A), the effective length of the maxilla (Ar-IZ, Ar-ANS, Ar-A), the maxillary protrusion (S-N-ANS, SNA), the anteroposterior jaw relation (ANS-N-Pog, ANB), and the overjet were smaller than in the lip repair only group. There were no significant differences in the maxillary length at the basal level (PMP-IZ, PMP-ANS) and the anterior and posterior maxillary heights (N-ANS and R-PMP, respectively) in the two groups., Conclusion: Palate repair inhibits the forward displacement of the basal maxilla and anteroposterior development of the maxillary dentoalveolus in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate. Palate repair has no detrimental effects on the downward displacement of the basal maxilla or on palatal remodeling in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

Objective: Lateral cephalograms from the growth archive of the Sri Lankan Cleft Lip and Palate Project were analyzed in a cohort design to study the long-term effects of lip repair on dentofacial morphology in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate., Methods: A total of 71 patients were recruited, including 23 adult patients with nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate without surgical repair and 48 adult patients with nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate who had lip repair, but without management of alveolus or anterior vomer. The design utilized exact matching on ethnicity and statistical control for gender and age., Results and Conclusions: The data support the hypothesis that lip repair primarily produces a bone-bending effect on the anterior maxillary alveolus (alveolar molding), accompanied by controlled uprighting of maxillary incisors, and secondarily produces a bone-remodeling effect (bone resorption) in the base of the anterior maxillary alveolus. When analyzed by the age at lip repair and the surgeon who performed lip repair, early lip repair produced a greater bone-remodeling effect than did late lip repair, and variation in the surgeon who performed lip repair had an insignificant impact on dentofacial morphology after adjusting for covariates.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that maxillary growth and lower lip form in patients with van der Woude syndrome (VDW) is different from patients with non-syndromic cleft lip and palate., Design and Setting: Retrospective, case-control study at a tertiary cleft center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan., Patients and Participants: Records of 53 patients with VDW, who presented for treatment during the years 1968 through 1998 were obtained. Twenty-three of 53 patients had received at least one lateral cephalogram during the course of their treatment. Of these 23, in 17 it was possible to find non-syndromic case controls with identical cleft type, sex, and method of cleft palate repair, with year of birth matching within 1 year of the corresponding VDW patient. For these 17 pairs of VDW and non-syndromic cleft controls, cephalogram acquisition dates were checked to see how well the corresponding pairs matched. A total of 43 pairs of cephalograms were deemed to be acceptably matched because the ages at acquisition differed by less than 15% of the VDW patient's age., Main Outcome Measures: Thirteen measurements were derived from the 11 standard lateral cephalometric landmarks recorded on each cephalogram. The data were classified into five groups according to age at time of cephalogram, and sets of paired non-syndromic cleft and VDW measurements were tested for differences using a Wilcoxon signed rank sum test in two ways, first including all cleft types and then including only those patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate. A longitudinal growth analysis considering the movement of the skeletal A and B points was performed on the patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate., Results: For the osseous measurements, anteroposterior maxillary length as described by the anterior nasal spine (ANS)-posterior maxillary point distance was statistically significantly shorter in the VDW patients of age 13 years and older, by 5.3 mm. Maxillary height, as described by the nasion-ANS distance was shorter in the VDW patients, closely approaching statistical significance in the age range 7 through 11 years. The lip soft tissue measurements showed significantly greater protrusion over several age ranges in the VDW patients. The longitudinal growth analysis showed a significantly more inferior vertical position of the B point in the controls., Conclusions: This study demonstrates a few statistically significant differences in maxillary growth and lip conformation between VDW and matching controls. Small sample sizes for each age group hamper the ability to fully interpret or generalize the pattern of these differences.

Introduction Traditional Figueroa nasoalveolar molding (NAM) requires weekly or biweekly adjustments to remove acrylic from the palatal plate to narrow the alveolar gap. These frequent adjustments create a burden for patients living far from a hospital. To minimize this burden, we developed a modified NAM technique using simplified lip taping and a passive palatal plate. Herein we present our clinical experience and outcomes using the traditional and modified methods. Material and methods In this blinded, retrospective study of 66 patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate, 33 received the traditional NAM and 33 received the modified NAM. Pretreatment and posttreatment facial photographs and clinical charts were used to compare efficacy (nostril height ratio, nostril width ratio, columellar angle, nasal base angle), efficiency (molding frequency), incidence of complications (facial irritation, mucosal ulceration), and medical cost. Results Traditional and modified NAM did not differ in treatment efficacy for nostril height ratio (0.88 ± 0.14 vs. 0.90 ± 0.12), nostril width ratio (2.22 ± 0.39 vs. 2.38 ± 0.50), columellar angle (73.5 ± 9.1 degrees vs. 71.3 ± 11.8 degrees), nasal base angle (5.1 ± 2.4 degrees vs. 5.9 ± 2.7 degrees), or alveolar gap width (2.0 ± 2.0 mm vs. 2.0 ± 1.7 mm) (all p > 0.05). Traditional NAM was less efficient, i.e., required more adjustments (8.6 ± 2.0 vs. 6.7 ± 1.1), and cost more (22016.4 ± 2012.7 New Taiwan dollars vs. 20137.6 ± 1173.4 New Taiwan dollars) (both p < 0.001). Conclusions Both NAM techniques similarly improved nasal deformities and reduced alveolar gaps, but the modified technique was more efficient and cost less in terms of insurance reimbursement and supplies (labial tapes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the long-term effects of clefts (intrinsic and functional) on craniofacial growth and to evaluate the possible association between the sizes of the cleft maxillary segment (intrinsic) and alveolar cleft (functional) and the craniofacial morphology in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). Design: Retrospective case-control study. Setting: Sri Lankan Cleft Lip and Palate Project. Subjects: Thirty unoperated adult patients with UCLP and 52 normal controls. Main Outcome Measures: Maxillary dental cast was used to measure the sizes of the cleft maxillary segment and alveolar cleft. Cephalometry was used to determine craniofacial morphology. Results: Patients with UCLP had shorter height of the basal maxilla, shorter posterior length of the basal maxilla, and less protruded basal maxilla at the zygomatic level than did control subjects. In patients with UCLP, the posterior height of the basal maxilla was related to the size of the cleft maxillary segment, and there was a tendency toward significant association between the anterior height of the basal maxilla and the size of the alveolar cleft. Conclusion: The adverse effects of clefts on the growth of the maxilla in patients with UCLP are restricted to the basal maxilla in size. This growth inhibition is major in height and minor in length. The reduced posterior height of the basal maxilla in unoperated patients with UCLP might be primarily attributed to intrinsic effects, whereas the reduced anterior height of the basal maxilla might be attributed to functional effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the possible association between the size of the premaxilla in infants and craniofacial morphology in children with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (CBCLP) and identify the characteristics of craniofacial morphology in children with CBCLP with median facial dysplasia (MFD). Design: Retrospective study. Setting: A university hospital craniofacial center. Subjects: Thirty-four patients with nonsyndromic CBCLP, 24 boys and 10 girls, had large premaxilla (LP group). Thirty-six patients with nonsyndromic CBCLP, 16 boys and 20 girls, had small premaxilla (SP group). Thirteen CBCLP patients with MFD, five boys and eight girls (MFD group). Main Outcome Measures: Infant maxillary dental cast at the age of I year was used to measure the size of the premaxilla. Cephalometric analysis was used to determine craniofacial morphology in children at the age of 5 years. Results: The size of the premaxilla in infants with CBCLP varied greatly. The LP group tended to have a longer maxilla and a more protruded maxilla, producing a better intergo relation. The opposite phenomena were observed in the MFD group; the SP group yielded results between those of the LP and the MFD groups. Conclusion: The size of the premaxilla in infants with CBCLP can be used to predetermine subsequent craniofacial morphology at the age of 5 years. Children with nonsyndromic CBCLP had craniofacial characteristics that differed significantly from those of children with CBCLP with median facial dysplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]