Modification of the maxillary Le Fort I osteotomy in cleft-orthognathic surgery: The unilateral cleft lip and palate deformity

Abstract

Modifications of the Le Fort I osteotomy are described that allow for the simultaneous routine and safe management of maxillary hypoplasia, residual oronasal fistula, bony defects, soft-tissue scarring, and cleft-dental gap in adolescents with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). The results of this operation with 40 consecutive patients are presented, together with follow-up findings ranging from 15 months to 4 years 5 months. Parameters reviewed include cleft-dental gap closure, maintenance of attached gingiva at the cleft site, maintenance of a positive overjet and overbite, closure of residual oronasal fistula, the need for prosthetics to complete dental rehabilitation, and surgical morbidity. Thirteen of the patients also underwent simultaneous sagittal split osteotomies of the mandible, and 29 had a genioplasty performed. In 32 of the patients surgical cleft-dental gap closure was planned, and was successfully executed in all but one. Thirty-seven patients underwent successful simultaneous oronasal fistula closure, but in three cases, small residual fistulas remained. In all cases, attached gingiva was maintained in the region of the cleft site and along the tooth-bearing surfaces. Almost all of the patients maintained a positive overjet (39 of 40) and 85% maintained a positive (34 of 40) or at least neutral (4 of 10) overbite. Complications were few and generally not serious.