Maxillary arch width dimension and Cleft width in Unilateral cleft patients - A Retrospective Study

Objectives: 1. To formulate a normative data/Research data of maxillary arch dimension and cleft width in UCLP patients. 2. To formulate a Posterior cleft width prediction equation using anterior cleft width, which will help in organising the future treatment plan in the required sequence. Materials and Methods: A Sample of 20 unilateral CLP patients were selected from a patient pool who had reported to CMCH, for treatment. This study was approved by ethical committee at CMCH, Vellore. Inclusion criteria: 1. Models of patients with unilateral CLP were selected. 2. Models were taken before any Presurgical manipulation of hard or soft tissues was done. 3. Age of the patient was 3 to 4 months without any treatment began. Methods: The landmarks anterior, mid, posterior arch width was marked on the Study Model measurements were made using the digital Vernier caliper Figure and documented on excel worksheets. Data were summarized using mean and standard deviation. We used a linear regression model to identify the prediction equation of posterior having posterior as an outcome and anterior as predictor. The scatterplot with the linear fit was used to visualize the prediction. All the data were analyzed using STATA IC/16.0. Results: 1. Normative data was tabulated. 2. Prediction equation of posterior from anterior width Posterior= 39.25-0.21*(anterior). The equation explains that when anterior increase posterior decrease and this can quantify as for one-unit increase in anterior there will be 0.21 decrease in posterior width, but this change is not statistically significant (p=0.447). Conclusion: 1. A normative data of maxillary arch dimension and cleft width in UCLP patients was developed and tabulated which will be also be useful as Research data. 2. The Posterior cleft width prediction equation using anterior cleft width, will help in formulating the future treatment plan in required sequence and ease the method of impression making in unilateral Cleft lip and palate patients.