Effects of Secondary Bone Grafting Period on Growth and Development in Dentofacial Complex in Patients with Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the timing of secondary bone grafting on the growth and development of dentofacial complex in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).
Design: Retrospective lateral cephalometric study.
Interventions: Thirty patients received similar primary surgical procedures by the same surgeon and the similar first phase orthodontic treatment. These patients were divided into two groups according to their age at secondary bone grafting: 23 patients at a mean age of 9.6 years (early group) and 7 at a mean age of 12.2 years (late group).
Methods: Lateral cephalometric radiographs of all subjects were obtained at two different times: at the age of 7 or 8 years (prior to bone grafting) and at the age of 15 or 16 years (more than one year after bone grafting). Twenty-eight measurement items on the sagittal and vertical growth of viscerocranium were compared between the early and late groups by the unpaired t-test.
Results and discussion: Vertical maxillary growth was inhibited significantly in the early group in comparison with the late group; however, there was no significant difference in sagittal maxillary growth between the two groups. This suggests that sagittal anterior maxillary growth is almost completed before the age of 10 years, but the alveolar process is still growing vertically after the age of 10 years.