Premaxillary Setback in Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Repair

Abstract

It is widely established in the literature that patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) often display midface dysmorphism. However, there is ongoing debate as to the pathophysiology behind the deficient maxillary growth that leads to this deformity. While some argue that it is a result of hypoplastic tissues inherent to the cleft phenotype, others postulate that it is due to surgical disruption of the maxillary growth centers and postoperative scarring1,2. Bilateral alveolar clefts may render a protruding premaxilla, distorting the soft tissue envelope.