Evaluation of Lefort I Osteotomy Line and Pterygomaxillary Junction Region in Patients With Cleft Lip and Palate.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the Le Fort I osteotomy line and pterygomaxillary junction via cone-beam computed tomography in individuals with cleft lip and palate (CLP). Retrospective study. Patients and Methods: The study included individuals older than 16 years with CLP, who were scheduled for repositioning of the maxilla by Le Fort I osteotomy, and those with class III malocclusion with maxillary hypoplasia, who were scheduled for Le Fort I osteotomy. The measurements made in the area of the cleft of individuals with CLP were compared with both the side with no cleft and those with class III malocclusion with maxillary hypoplasia. A total of 11 measurements were made on the axial section parallel to the Frankfurt Horizontal plane, corresponding to the lower 1/5 of the distance between the infraorbital foramen and the anterior nasal spine. There were significant differences both in the comparisons made between the individuals with CLP and those without CLP in terms of the canal-anterior alveolar crest (G) and sinus-anterior alveolar crest (L) measurements (P < .05). The mean measurement values showed that the measurement results were higher in individuals with CLP in general. In conclusion, we believe that there might be difficulties both in osteotomy and down fracture stages during Le Fort I osteotomies performed in individuals with CLP.