Long-term influence of infant periosteoplasty on facial growth and occlusion in patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate

Abstract This retrospective, long-term study evaluated the influence of two different treatment protocols, one including infant periosteoplasty, on facial growth and occlusion in patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP). Thirty-five patients with records of 5-, 8- and 16-19-year-olds were included. Sixteen of these received infant periosteoplasty (BCLP-pp) to the cleft alveolus in conjunction with lip repair and a one-stage closure of the palate. The remaining 19 patients with a two-stage closure of the palate did not have an infant periosteoplasty (BCLP-np). The bone formation induced by periosteoplasty in the BCLP-np group was insufficient and both groups had secondary bone grafting to the alveolar clefts before the eruption of the lateral incisor or the canine. Facial growth was evaluated with cephalometry at the recorded ages and dental arch relationships with the Huddart and Bodenham crossbite scores at the age of 16-19 years. Until 19 years a significant retrusion of the maxillary position (SNA) was observed in both groups. At 16-19 years of age there was no significant difference of maxillary protrusion (SNA), intermaxillary position (ANB), maxillary length (ss-pm) or vertical skeletal relationships (ML/NSL, Ml/NL) between the two groups. However, a significant difference of the crossbite scores was found. The BCLP-pp group did not show more facial growth problems but more malocclusion and the insufficient bone formation of the alveolar clefts after infant periosteoplasty required a secondary bone grafting.     

Direct gingivoperiosteoplasty with palatoplasty

Gingivoperiosteoplasty creates a mucoperiosteal bridge across the alveolar cleft associated with cleft lip and palate. The subperiosteal tunnel allows for bone generation in the absence of bone grafting in young patients. The original procedure required wide maxillary subperiosteal dissection and flap rotation but has since evolved along with techniques to narrow the alveolar cleft toward limited dissection and direct closure. Multiple studies reveal superior facial growth parameters, particularly vertical maxillary growth, when compared with primary bone grafting typically performed within the first year of life and a reduced need for later secondary bone grafting. Most centers that perform gingivoperiosteoplasty do so in conjunction with primary lip closure after initial narrowing of the cleft with presurgical orthopedics. We present our method of direct gingivoperiosteoplasty performed simultaneously with palatoplasty after alveolar cleft narrowing without presurgical orthopedics via a two-stage lip repair. Preliminary data suggest bone growth capable of supporting tooth eruption without significant growth disturbances in a majority of patients treated with this protocol.     

A Follow-Up Study of Cleft Children Treated with Primary Bone Grafting: I. Orthodontic Aspects

The effect of primary bone grafting in the treatment of complete clefts has been studied with roentgenologic and biometric methods. The material, operated on during 1958–64, consisted of 16 patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate and 37 cases with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. All of the studied bone grafts (= 69) healed well, but this did not lead to the expected normalisation of the growth of the middle face. On the contrary, our patients developed a pronounced maxillary retrognathia, which seemed to increase with age. This resulted in a concave facial skeletal profile for both the bilateral and unilateral cases. The occlusal analysis also indicated a maxillary growth retardation. Thus, our patients revealed a much higher frequency of anterior as well as lateral crossbites, when compared with other studies on not-bone-grafted clefts. Also, our patients had increased frequency of Class III molar relations while fewer had Class I and Class II relations. The growth aberration in many cases reached such a degree that the primary bone grafting of further cleft patients was discontinued.     

Long-term outcome of secondary alveolar bone grafting in cleft lip and palate patients: A 10-year follow-up cohort study

Abstract

The objective was to assess the long-term outcome of secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) in cleft lip and palate patients and to examine relationships between preoperative and postoperative factors and overall long-term bone graft success. The records of 97 patients with cleft lip and palate, who had secondary alveolar bone grafting of 123 alveolar clefts, were examined. Interalveolar bone height was assessed radiographically a minimum of 10 years after grafting using a 4-point scale (I–IV), where types I and II were considered a success. After an average follow-up of 16 years after SABG (range = 10.2–22.7 years), 101 of the 123 grafts (82%) were categorised as successes. Mean age in the success group was 12.1 years and 13.6 years in the failure group (p = 0.03). It was found that the success rate was significantly lower (p = 0.02) if SABG was performed after eruption of the tooth distal to the cleft. No significant differences were found with regard to the other parameters investigated. The timing of secondary alveolar bone grafting is critical with regard to the age of the patient and the stage of eruption of the tooth distal to the cleft.     

The early gingivoalveoloplasty. Preliminary results.

To try and achieve good alveolar structure without the need for later bone grafting, we have carried out secondary gingivoalveoloplasties in 19 consecutive patients with cleft lip and palate at a mean age of 36 months (range 19-68). The lip and soft palate had been repaired at a mean age of 6 months. Preliminary results suggest that simultaneous closure of the hard palate and reconstruction of the alveolomaxillary cleft results in good formation of new bone and good or reasonable alveolar structure, so obviating the necessity for bone grafting at the age of 9-10 years. Long term follow up is needed to confirm these results.     

Embryonic rationale for the primary correction of classical congenital clefts of the lip and palate.

Primary correction of congenital clefts of the lip and palate should be designed to carry the interrupted embryonic process to normal completion. This is best accomplished by maxillary alignment with presurgical orthodontics, stabilisation of the maxillary alignment, obliteration of the alveolar cleft and construction of the nasal floor with periosteoplasty. This allows early construction of the lip by rotation and advancement and correction of the nose with columella lengthening, alar cartilage positioning and alar base cinching. This can be accomplished before school age.     

Primary,Early Bone Grafting in Complete Clefts of the Lip and Palate: A Follow-up Study of 53 Cases

Fifty-three patients with complete unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate between the ages of 5 1/2 and 13 1/2 years have been followed up. Following preoperative jaw orthopedic treatment, when indicated, these cases were operated with lip closure and bone grafting with four mucoperiosteal flaps as described by Nordin (1960) and Bäckdahl & Nordin (1961). In the 14 bilateral cases this operation was done in two stages, one side at a time, in this series. At the follow-up, facial appearance, hearing, speech assessment, some facial angles and incidence of crossbites were examined. In the 39 unilateral cleft cases, 80% had an acceptable appearance while 20% needed secondary surgery of the lip and nose as rated independently by four doctors. In the 14 bilateral cases 50% needed secondary operation of the lip and nose. Speech assessment in the bone-grafted group was good or superior to that in a non-bone-grafted group of patients with clefts of the primary and the secondary palate. Open nasality and consonant articulations were also taken into consideration. No permanent hearing impairment was noted in these patients although they are prone to chronic ear diseases. No serious maldevelopment of the facial skeleton was noted in our study following primary, early bone grafting. The incidence of crossbite was comparatively low. This type of treatment is continuing at our centre since the results are promising. Comparison of similar studies from other centres with long-term follow-ups are called for.     

Comparison of growth results in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate after early secondary gingivoalveoloplasty and secondary bone grafting: 20 years follow up

The Milan surgical protocol from 1988 has included repair of lip, nose, and soft palate at 6–9 months of age, and closure of the hard palate and alveolus with an early secondary gingivoalveoloplasty at 18–36 months. The goal of this study was to evaluate the long-term maxillary growth in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) who had had the early secondary gingivoalveoloplasty, compared with the growth in a sample treated before 1988, by the same surgeon, with a surgical protocol that differed only by the method and the timing of alveolar closure. In the second group they were repaired by secondary bone grafting. The samples consisted of lateral cephalograms of the UCLP early secondary gingivoalveoloplasty sample (15 patients with a mean age of 18 (1.2) years) and of the UCLP bone graft sample (10 patients with a mean age of 19 (1.1) years). The early secondary gingivoalveoloplasty patients showed that maxillary growth was inhibited compared with the secondary bone graft group. Although the early secondary gingivoalveoloplasty allowed for early repair of the alveolus together with palatal repair, eliminating the need for secondary bone grafting, it seemed to have an inhibiting influence on maxillary growth that increased the need for Le Fort I osteotomies. Even with a Le Fort I osteotomy, the early secondary gingivoalveoloplasty allows the total number of operations to be kept down to three, as in most European protocols.     

Secondary Bone Grafting of Alveolar Clefts: A Surgical/Orthodontic Treatment Enabling a Non-prosthodontic Rehabilitation in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients

A procedure combining grafting of cancellous bone to the residual cleft of the primary palate with subsequent orthodontic movement of teeth into the former cleft area is described. The preliminary results from the first 80 patients (89 clefts) are presented. The age of the patients at the bone grafting ranged from 8 to 18 years, and the observation time from 17 to 44 months. The results have been assessed 1) on the basis of dental radiographs and 2) clinically, by the response of the grafted area to the orthodontic movement of adjacent teeth. In 69 clefts in which the cleft side canine had been brought into its final position at the time of evaluation, the height of the interal-veolar septum was assessed to be approximately normal in 38% and slightly less than normal in 44%. A septum of insufficient height (less than 3/4 of the normal) had formed in 5 clefts (7%). Even in these cases, the main objects of the operation were fulfilled: The maxillary segments were stabilized, the teeth adjacent to the cleft had better bone support, and the gap in the dental arch could be closed orthodontically in four of the five clefts. Failures, i.e. no continuous bone bridge across the alveolar cleft, were recorded in 8 instances (9%) of the total material. When failures were disregarded, the gap in the dental arch was closed orthodontically in 90%, while prosthodontic closure was deemed necessary in 10% of the cases. Optimal results were obtained when bone grafting was performed prior to the full eruption of the cleft side canine. In this situation, the known potential of an erupting tooth to induce alveolar bone generation proved to be of great advantage. By deliberately guiding the erupting canine through the grafted area close to the incisor, a nearly normal interalveolar septum was formed, and the gap in the dental arch was closed orthodontically in 23 out of 26 clefts. When fissural teeth were present, they were in most cases integrated in the dental arch. Approximate incisor symmetry could thus be obtained. In the remaining 20 clefts, the ipsilateral canine had not reached its final position at the time of evaluation, and the end results could not be assessed. However, bone formation in the defect was good in 19 of the 20 clefts, and a fully satisfactory result is expected in the majority of these cases. Further advantages were obtained by this procedure: 1) The maxillary segments were stabilized, particularly important in bilateral clefts in which the premaxilla was movable. 2) Oronasal fistulae were effectively closed and mucosal recesses eliminated. 3) The grafted bone provided support for the receded alar base, reducing the nasal asymmetry and improving the facial contour. 4) The postoperative orthodontic treatment could be brought to an end at approximately the same age as for patients with a non-cleft malocclusion. The only significant complication in this series was infection of the grafted area, causing loss of the bone grafts in two cases, and possibly contributing to the failure in some other patients. The experience gained with this treatment permits the conclusion that a full osseous and dental rehabilitation can be achieved in the great majority of patients with cleft lip and palate without any prosthodontic reconstructive work.     

Cleft lip,maxilla and palate treatment by Dr. Talmant's team in Nantes

Over the last 30 years, our private cleft lip and palate team has developed an increasing activity based on the Victor Veau's concept: "All the structures are present and only deformed". Our goal is to achieve an anatomical and fully functional repair in every fields with the first operation. A few recent refinements have improved our primary procedures: intravelar veloplasty; simultaneous lengthening of the columella and primary lip repair in bilateral clefts; nasal retainer for the 3 or 4 first postoperative months allowing the establishment of a nasal breathing mode at once. Our timing has been the same over the last 21 years if we except that we currently perform the gingivoperiosteoplasty between 4 and 5 years of age so that the width and the relationships of the maxillary arch are normal at the time of the mixed dentition. The timing is the same in uni and bilateral clefts. No preoperative orthopedics. At 6 months of age, nasolabial repair and closure of the soft palate with intravelar veloplasty. At 18 months of age, anatomical closure of the residual cleft of the bony palate in two planes without vomer flap or denuded bone. Between 4 and 5 years of age, after a short orthopedic treatment, closure of the alveolar cleft by a gingivoperiosteoplasty with iliac bone graft. From 6 years of age we start the orthodontic treatment. The current evolution allows to think that only few late corrections will be necessary.     

Reconstruction of Previously Failed Alveolar Bone Grafts with Medial Femoral Condyle Flap in Pediatric Cleft Lip and Palate Patients

Alveolar cleft reconstruction is important to increase the quality of life of cleft lip and palate patients. Usually, alveolar clefts can be reconstructed using bone grafts. However, bone grafting can be insufficient, and other alternatives may be necessary in wide and recalcitrant clefts. The medial femoral condyle (MFC) flap may be the solution for alveolar clefts that are impossible to reconstruct with bone grafting. In this study, the reconstruction of alveolar clefts in the pediatric cleft lip and palate population, using the MFC flap, is described.This study examined 9 pediatric patients whose alveolar clefts were reconstructed prospectively using MFC flap in 2015 and 2019. The age, gender, follow-up times, independent parameters, and existence of concomitant vestibulonasal fistulas of the patients were recorded. Computerized tomography images of the patients were evaluated to detect defect characteristics and evaluate the volume of flap postoperatively. Flap viability was confirmed with bone scintigraphy, and donor area morbidity was evaluated with the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) in the postoperative period.The study included 7 male and 2 female patients. The mean age of the patients was 13. In addition to an alveolar cleft, 6 patients also had vestibulonasal fistula. It was observed that the volume of the flaps had not changed one year after the operation. The DGI score of all the patients was 24.Existing techniques may be inadequate in the reconstruction of wide and recalcitrant alveolar clefts. MFC flap may be the start of a new era for the treatment of alveolar clefts.     

Late management of cleft lip and palate problems: a joint orthodontic/surgical approach

Three patients are presented from a larger case series of adolescent cleft lip and palate patients to illustrate a combined approach to the treatment of severe facial and dentoalveolar discrepancy. The following treatment regime was employed: orthopaedic expansion of the maxillary dentoalveolus; tertiary bone grafting of the alveolar cleft; upper and lower dental arch alignment and decompensation; and orthognathic surgery to correct the skeletal defect by means of a maxillary single unit advancement. The advantages of tertiary grafting (when secondary grafting has not been carried out) in the orthodontic and surgical management of these patients is discussed.     

A Multicentre Comparison of Treatment Regimens for Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Using a Multiple Regression Model

Abstract

The European Cleft Lip and Palate Research Group consists of specialists in orthodontics from six centres for the treatment of cleft palate in northern Europe. The purpose of this part of the multicentre study was to investigate whether differences in outcomes could be explained by specific treatment regimens. Three regimens that were assumed to influence the outcome of treatment were selected: Presurgical orthopaedics, closure of the palate, and primary bone grafting. The sample comprised 151 children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate from the six centres. The result of multiple regression analysis showed that within that sample it was not possible to reach definite conclusions as to which factors exerted the most favourable influence on facial growth, but primary bone grafting was associated with reduced maxillary inclination and presurgical orthopedics with increased mandibular inclination.     

齿槽裂修复方法的研究进展

目的探讨齿槽裂修复治疗的目的、方法以及治疗时机的选择。方法查阅1950年至2006年有关齿槽裂修复的文献,归纳文献中报道的不同方法,并评价其各自的优缺点。结果齿槽裂修复的主要目的:关闭口鼻瘘;建立稳定、连续的上颌骨牙弓;为牙齿萌出提供基础;为上唇和鼻底提供稳定支架。主要治疗方法:植骨术;牵引成骨技术;组织工程骨和生长因子应用;引导骨再生技术。患者最佳的手术治疗时机是9~11岁时混合牙列期。结论在9~11岁混合牙列期手术,以髂骨松质骨为移植材料被认为是修复齿槽裂的主要手段。牵引成骨技术、组织工程技术和引导骨再生技术,将是齿槽裂修复的新方向。     

Tissue engineering solutions for cleft palates.

PURPOSE: Clefts of the lip and palate are the most prevalent congenital craniofacial birth defect in humans. The developing field of tissue engineering is considered for the management of clefts of the lip and palate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of the literature was carried out by using electronic databases (such as PubMed and ISI Web of Science) to search topics including "cleft palate," "tissue engineering," "bone engineering," "palate engineering," and "alveolar bone grafting." To reflect current practice and research, these searches were limited primarily to articles published after the year 2000. RESULTS: Current approaches for the treatment of clefts of the lip and palate include surgery and bone grafts; however, there are limitations associated with these therapies. Tissue engineering strategies, particularly alveolar bone engineering and soft tissue engineering, may provide clinicians with new alternatives. The application of these emerging technologies to a pediatric population must be well considered. CONCLUSIONS: A tissue engineering approach may be a useful alternative for the treatment of cleft palates as it mitigates the concerns of donor site morbidity as well as provides additional options including scaffold implantation and growth factor delivery.     

Dentofacial relations in young adults with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate. A follow-up study

A retrospective study was made on 30 patients born between 1958 and 1969 with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (C-UCLP) and operated on at the Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital, Ume?, Sweden. All patients were operated on by the same surgeon. The results are based on data from records at 5, 10, 16 and 20 years of age. The facial morphology of the cleft children at 5 years of age was rather close to that of the normal children. During growth the faces became retrognathic, more visibly so in the maxilla resulting in straight or concave profiles. This was more evident among the boys. There were no differences regarding maxillary growth between children bone grafted at 10 to 16 years of age and those bone grafted after 16 years of age or not at all. Although surgical procedures and orthodontic treatment varied, 70% had less than 3 teeth in crossbite relationships at 20 years of age. An important factor to take into consideration is the fact that in addition to the influence that the cleft morphology and treatment have on the dentofacial growth, other dentofacial growth patterns also exist among the cleft patients. Generally the groups of patients reported are rather small and therefore conditions like these can have a strong influence on the results.     

Tibia as donor site for alveolar bone grafting in patients with cleft lip and palate: long-term experience.

Tibial bone grafts were studied in 137 patients with clefts of the lip and palate. Twenty-one had clefts of the lip and primary palate and 116 had complete unilateral clefts of the lip and palate. Bone grafting was performed secondarily or late secondarily. Bone was harvested from the proximal part of the tibia distal to the tuberosity through an incision about 15 mm long. The mean follow-up time after bone grafting was 5.5 years (range 2-11). There were no operative, or early or late postoperative complications reported (such as haematoma, fracture, or shortening of the limb). Harvesting time was about 15 minutes. The possibility of operating with two teams makes the total operating time shorter. Bleeding was negligible (less than 15 ml) and the amount of bone obtained was always sufficient. Patients were mobilised the next day and were back to full physical activity by one month. Indications for tibial bone grafting included facilitation of tooth eruption into the graft, giving bony support to the neighbouring teeth, making it possible to insert a titanium fixture, raising the alar base of the nose, and closing an oronasal fistula. Compared with iliac, cranial, mandibular, and costal donor sites, using the tibia took less time, gave less bleeding, made it possible for two teams to operate simultaneously, gave a smaller scar, and there were minimal complications and satisfactory quantity and quality of bone in all cases. The results suggested that the tibia is an excellent choice of graft for residual alveolar clefts in patients with cleft lip and palate.     

Craniofacial cephalometric morphology in 6-year-old children with isolated cleft lip,isolated submucous cleft palate,and combined cleft lip and submucous cleft palate

One hundred and twenty-one cleft children (67 with isolated cleft lip (CL), 32 with isolated submucous cleft palate (SMCP), and 22 with combined cleft lip and submucous cleft palate (CL + SMCP)) were compared retrospectively from lateral cephalograms taken at a mean age of 6.2 years (range 5.5–7.9). None of the children had had their palates repaired or been operated on to treat velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). The children with CL + SMCP and CL had similar morphology. They had greater maxillary length, greater maxillary and mandibular prominence, less vertical growth pattern, less deep nasopharyngeal airways, and thinner upper lips than those with isolated SMCP. After 6 years of age one patient with CL + SMCP, none with CL, and 16 with SMCP needed operations for VPI. This small series suggests that children with CL + SMCP and SMCP have different morphology. Although CL + SMCP is a combination of two types of clefts, it seems to be associated with similar morphology to CL.