Failure Rates Based on Alveolar Cleft Size: An Analysis of the Critical Size Defect for rhBMP-2/DBM and ICGB in Alveolar Cleft Repair

Abstract

Alveolar cleft repair (ACR) using iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) is the standard of care at many institutions for children with complete cleft lip and palate at mixed dentition. Harvesting bone may result in donor site morbidity, protracted operations, and longer hospitalizations. With the advent of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP-2) and demineralized bone matrix (DBM), the inherent drawbacks of using ICBG during ACR can be avoided. Recent studies demonstrate that rhBMP-2 with DBM (rhBMP-2/DBM) has equal graft success versus ICBG without incurring serious adverse events.