1994 Volume 43 Issue 3 Pages 423-439
The maxillary growth in patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate from infancy to four years of age following two-stage palatoplasty combined with the use of Hotz plate was studied. The subjects consisted of 30 bilateral cleft lip and palate patients (BCLP group). Serial maxillary casts and lateral roentgenographic cephalograms were used for the analysis and compared with non-cleft control group. The results were as follows:
1. Anterior growth of premaxilla and anterolateral growth of lateral segments were observed frominfancy to the time of veloplasty (about 18 months).
2. At the time of veloplasty, maxillary alveolar arches came into parabolic shape due to the anterolateral growth of lateral segments by growth guidance of Hotz plate.
3. The maxilla grew anteriorly, especially lateral segments showed significant anterior growth after veloplasty to four years of age. Moreover, no statistical differences were observed in the inter-canine width and inter-first molar width between BCLP group and control group in deciduous dentition.
4. The analysis of lateral roentgenographic cephalograms revealed that the position of premaxilla in BCLP group was the same as that of the control group throughout the observation period, however, the anteroinferior growth of lateral segments was significant.
5. The length, width and position of maxillary arch in the BCLP group were the same as that of the control group at four years of age.
It is concluded that two-stage palatoplasty combined with the use of Hotz plate is effective for maxillary growth in bilateral cleft lip and palate patients.
