Severity of Alveolar Cleft Affects Prognosis of Infant Orthopedics in Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between severity of alveolar cleft and treatment outcome of infant orthopedics in patients affected by complete unilateral cleft lip and palate from cheiloplasty to palatoplasty with a three-dimensional evaluation method. Treatment outcomes of infant orthopedics were evaluated using three-dimensional linear and angular measurements of plaster models after cheiloplasty (T1) and before palatoplasty (T2). Eleven patients who had a width of alveolar cleft (WC) less than 4.0 mm at T1 (mild group) and 13 patients who had a WC 4.0 mm or greater (severe group) were compared and analyzed. From T1 to T2, the lengths of the alveolar segments were increased, and the WC was decreased without palatal collapse of alveolar segments in both groups. However, the WC in the severe group was significantly decreased by increased growth of the major segment compared with the mild group. The incisive papilla had a more evoked growth to the alveolar cleft side than in the severe group. Conclusively, infant orthopedics was quite useful in reducing WC in patients affected by unilateral cleft lip and palate after cheiloplasty, and the severity of WC significantly affected the prognosis of infant orthopedics.