Maxillary Growth in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients, With and Without Vomerine Flap Closure of the Hard Palate at the Time of Lip Repair: A Retrospective Analysis of Prospectively Collected Nonrandomized Data, With 10-Year Cephalometric Outcomes.

Abstract

To assess the midterm effect on maxillary growth of vomerine flap (VF) closure of the hard palate, at the time of lip repair. A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected nonrandomized data. Consecutive participants with a unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) were operated on, at 3 months of age, by the same surgeon. They were divided into 2 groups, those who had a VF and those who did not (non-VF). Participants were treated at 2 hospitals in the United Kingdom. Twenty-eight participants in the VF group and 24 participants in the non-VF group attended follow-up at 10 years of age. Standardized lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken at 10 years. Following tracing and digitization, parameters to assess the maxillary growth were analyzed. No statistically significant differences were found in the anterior-posterior or vertical skeletal cephalometric parameters. The results of this study support the statement that VF repair does not significantly affect maxillary growth in patients with a UCLP, when assessed cephalometrically at 10 years of age. It should be noted that at this age, growth is not yet complete.