The effects of Le Fort I osteotomy on velopharyngeal function in cleft patients

Introduction

Maxillary advancement may affect speech in cleft patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether preoperative velopharyngeal (VP) function and cleft type can predict VP function after a Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy.

A pilot study of the effects of transpalatal maxillary advancement on velopharyngeal closure in cleft palate patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Impaired velopharyngeal closure function is sometimes a complication of a standard Le Fort I maxillary advancement in cleft palate patients. The transpalatal Le Fort I osteotomy has been suggested as an alternative technique that may avoid this problem. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the effects of the transpalatal approach on velopharyngeal function in a series of cleft palate patients. PATIENTS: Sixteen consecutive patients with a history of cleft palate exhibiting maxillary hypoplasia who underwent a transpalatal Le Fort I osteotomy. METHODS: All patients had a simultaneous audio/video speech recording and nasopharyngoscopy examination prior to maxillary advancement, followed by a repeat of the same examinations at least 1 year post-operatively. Velopharyngeal function was measured in two ways: by direct observation using nasopharyngoscopy, and indirectly by means of perceptual assessment. Reliability studies of the two measures were performed with satisfactory results. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found between the pre- and post-operative data in either the perceptual speech assessment or nasopharyngoscopy examination. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that maxillary advancement by transpalatal Le Fort I osteotomy does not adversely affect velopharyngeal closure function.     

Effect of maxillary advancement on speech and velopharyngeal function of patients with cleft palate: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review (SR) aimed to evaluate speech and velopharyngeal function (VPF) changes of patients with cleft palate (CLP) after maxillary advancement (MA) surgery. A two-phase PROSPERO-registered SR (CRD42019141370) was conducted following the PRISMA statements. Search strategies were developed for main databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, COCHRANE, LILACS, and EBSCOhost) and Grey literature information sources. The GRADE tool was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. From a total of 908 articles, 10 (205 men and 147 women; mean age ranging from 18.0 to 25.7 years) were selected for meta-analysis. Moderate to high risk of bias (Rob) was observed. The most common methods for outcomes evaluation were the Nasometer (speech) and nasoendoscopy (VPF). Speech changed from normal to hypernasal, and VPF worsening were reported in most studies. Comparing maxillary advancement interventions (osteogenic distraction versus Le Fort I), no statistically significant differences were found regarding benefit on speech and VPF. In summary, the effect of MA on speech and VPF remains controversial in CLP patients. The RoB, inconsistencies, and imprecisions severely affected the overall quality of evidence. Further adequately delineated clinical studies are necessary to investigate the potential effect of MA interventions on speech and VPF in CLP patients.     

Two-point nasomaxillary fixation of the Le Fort I osteotomy: assessment of stability at one year postoperative

The purpose was to assess maxillary position among patients undergoing Le Fort I maxillary advancement with internal fixation placed only at the nasomaxillary buttresses. This was a retrospective study of patients undergoing a Le Fort I osteotomy for maxillary advancement, with internal fixation placed only at the nasomaxillary buttresses. Demographic and cephalometric measures were recorded. The outcome of interest was the change in maxillary position between immediately postoperative (T1), 6 weeks postoperative (T2), and 1 year postoperative (T3). Fifty-eight patients were included as study subjects (32 male, 26 female; mean age 18.4 ± 1.8 years). Twenty-five subjects (43.1%) had a diagnosis of cleft lip and palate. Forty-three subjects (74.1%) had bimaxillary surgery, 16 (27.6%) had bone grafts, and 18 (31.0%) had segmental maxillary osteotomies. At T3, there were no subjects with non-union, malunion, malocclusion, or relapse requiring repeat surgery. Mean linear changes between T1 and T3 were ≤1 mm. Mean angular changes between T1 and T3 were <1°. There was no significant difference in stability in multi-segment maxillary osteotomies (P =  0.22) or with bone grafting (P =  0.31). In conclusion, anterior fixation alone in the Le Fort I osteotomy results in a stable maxillary position at 1 year postoperative.     

上颌前徙术对上颌发育不足患者腭咽部结构影响的临床探讨

目的：探讨上颌前移术对上颌发育不足患者腭咽部结构的影响。方法：选择2011-2013年行上颌Le FortI型截骨前移术的上颌发育不足患者12例,男7例,女5例,其中唇腭裂患者5例,非唇腭裂患者7例,平均年龄22．21岁,所有患者在术前、术后1月拍摄头颅定位侧位片,并对腭咽部结构指标进行测量分析。结果：上颌骨最大前移幅度8mill,最小3mm,平均前移（5．28±2．32）mm,术后咽腔深度明显增大（P〈0．05）;同时软腭长度及软硬腭夹角较术前11月显增大（P〈0．05）,软腭厚度减小。结论：上颌骨前移术造成患者咽腔深度显著增加,对腭咽闭合功能可能有不利影响：术后腭叫部软组织发生适应性变化,这种代偿性改变会在一定程度上减轻腭咽闭合不全。     

唇腭裂继发上颌骨发育不足牵引成骨后腭咽部功能变化

目的　通过颅外支架式上颌骨牵引成骨术 (RigidExternalDistraction ,RED)前后唇腭裂患者静止位和[i]发音位头颅定位侧位片腭咽部结构变化 ,拟评价上颌骨牵引成骨术对唇腭裂患者腭咽部结构功能的影响及其相关因素。方法　 1999～ 2 0 0 1年行颅外支架式上颌骨牵引成骨术的唇腭裂术后上颌发育不足患者 2 1名 ,平均年龄15 .0 5岁。所有患者RED术前后拍摄静止位及 [i]位头颅定位片 ,然后对腭咽部结构功能指标测量分析。结果　(1)RED术后PNS A、PNS PPW、NR、ASPHP、RVCR、EASP和MSP具有显著性变化 ;(2 )RVCR的变化与上颌骨前移幅度、PNS PPW增加幅度和NR增大程度呈正相关。上颌前移幅度还与软硬腭夹角增加呈正相关。结论　 (1)上颌骨牵引成骨术后腭咽腔深度增加 ,对唇腭裂患者腭咽闭合功能仍有一定负面影响 ,但同时腭咽部软组织有代偿性改变 ;(2 )上颌骨前移幅度与RED术后腭咽闭合功能变化有关 ;(3)咽后壁瓣的存在对防止和减少RED术后腭咽闭合功能不全产生有积极作用。     

The effect of maxillary advancement on articulation of alveolar consonants in cleft patients

IntroductionMaxillary advancement may affect speech in cleft patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of maxillary advancement on Finnish alveolar consonants /s/, /l/, and /r/ in cleft patients.Materials and methodsFifty-nine Finnish-speaking nonsyndromic cleft patients, who had undergone Le Fort I or bimaxillary osteotomies, were evaluated retrospectively Production of the Finnish alveolar consonants /s/, /l/, and /r/ was assessed from pre- and postoperative standardized video recordings by two experienced speech pathologists. McNemar's test was used in the statistical analyses. Kappa statistics were calculated to assess reliability.ResultsThe patients included 35 females and 24 males with CP (n = 12), UCLP (n = 31), and BCLP (n = 16). There was a significant improvement in /s/ and /l/ sounds after maxillary advancement (p = 0.039 and p = 0.002, respectively). The preoperative mean percentage of /s/ errors was 34%; postoperatively it was 20%. /L/ was misarticulated preoperatively by 34% of the patients and postoperatively by 19%. /R/ was misarticulated preoperatively by 47% of the patients and postoperatively by 42%. The level of mild articulation errors rose from 25% to 31%, while severe articulation errors decreased from 37% to 25%. The reliabilities were good.ConclusionWhen planning orthognathic surgery in cleft patients with maxillary retrusion and articulation errors, advancement of the maxilla might be a means for improving articulation of /s/ and /l/.     

唇腭裂患者牵张成骨术后的侧貌变化

目的：通过对唇腭裂术后继发上颌骨发育不足患者进行口外支架式前牵张治疗术后6～24个月的随访,观察分析其侧貌变化,为合理使用牵张器提供参考。方法：选取1998—2002年间上海交通大学医学院附属第九人民医院进行牵张成骨治疗、按时随访的唇腭裂患者14例进行术后随访分析。随访期分别为术后3、6、12、24个月,分别拍摄头颅定位侧位片及照片,记录患者的侧貌变化。结果：14例患者在牵张成骨术后6个月,至术后24个月,3例表现为双颌前突畸形,3例仍表现为面中部凹陷,1例表现为前牙开。结论：牵张成骨术治疗唇腭裂术后上颌骨发育不足患者具有一定优势,但牵张方向及牵张量难以控制,术后侧貌时不尽满意。因此,唇腭裂患者继发上颌骨发育不足在行牵张成骨术治疗时,应综合考虑多种因素的影响。     

Importance of soft tissue for skeletal stability in maxillary advancement in patients with cleft lip and palate.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of stability of the advanced maxilla after two-jaw surgery and Le Fort I osteotomy in patients with cleft palate based on soft tissue planning. SUBJECTS: Between 1995 and 1998, 15 patients with cleft lip and palate deformities underwent advancement of a retruded maxilla, without insertion of additional bone grafts. Eleven patients had bimaxillary osteotomies and four patients only a Le Fort I osteotomy. Relapse of the maxilla in horizontal and vertical dimensions was evaluated by cephalometric analysis after a clinical follow-up of at least 2 years. RESULTS: In the bimaxillary osteotomies, horizontal advancement was an average 4 mm at point A. After 2 years, there was an additional advancement of point A of an average of 0.7 mm. In the mandible, a relapse of 0.8 mm was seen after an average setback of 3.9 mm. In the four patients with Le Fort I osteotomy, point A was advanced by 3.8 mm and the relapse after 2 years was 0.9 mm. Vertical elongation at point A resulted in relapse in both groups. Impaction of the maxilla led to further impaction as well. CONCLUSION: Cephalometric soft tissue analysis demonstrates the need for a two-jaw surgery, not only in severe maxillary hypoplasia. Alteration of soft tissue to functional harmony and three-dimensional correction of the maxillomandibular complex are easier to perform in a two-jaw procedure. It results in a more stable horizontal skeletal position of the maxilla.     

Orbitofrontal monobloc advancement for Crouzon syndrome

IntroductionUsually, patients suffering from Crouzon syndrome have synostosis of coronal sutures, exophthalmia, hypertelorism, and hypoplasia of the middle third of face. Sometimes maxillary retrusion is absent, so these patients have class I or II relationship. In these cases, frontofacial monobloc advancement, which is the gold standard, increases the maxillo-mandibular dysmorphia. Therefore we propose orbitofrontal monobloc advancement minus dental arch, without splits of the pterygoid plates.Case reportA 12-year-old girl with Crouzon syndrome had intracranial hypertension, exophthalmia, a middle third retrusion and a class II occlusion. We achieved orbitofrontal monobloc advancement which is frontofacial monobloc advancement minus maxillary dental arch. Four distractors KLS Martin were used. After 20 days of distraction, the final advancement was 10.2 mm for cranial distractors and 10.5 mm at fronto-zygomatic. Distractors were removed after 8 months.DiscussionWe offer patients suffering from Crouzon syndrome with class I or II relationship a change from the classic frontofacial monobloc advancement leaving the maxillary dental arch in place, thus avoiding the worsening of the maxillo-mandibular dysmorphia related to surgery. The idea of associating Le Fort I osteotomy with a frontofacial monobloc advancement or Le Fort III osteotomy has already been described, mainly by Tessier and Obwegeser, however they probably achieved a complete Le Fort I osteotomy while we don't split the pterygoid plates.The patient's morphology and his surgical history determine the choice between Le Fort III and monobloc advancement. Dental occlusion needs to be taken into account for surgical indication.     

Speech outcome and velopharyngeal function in cleft palate: comparison of Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy and distraction osteogenesis--early results.

OBJECTIVE: To compare speech outcome and velopharyngeal (VP) status of subjects with repaired cleft palate who underwent either conventional Le Fort I osteotomy or maxillary distraction osteogenesis to correct maxillary hypoplasia. DESIGN: Prospective randomized study with blind assessment of speech outcome and VP status. SUBJECTS: Twenty-two subjects were randomized into conventional Le Fort I osteotomy and Le Fort I distraction groups. All were native Chinese (Cantonese) speakers. METHOD: Perceptual judgment of resonance and nasal emission, study of VP structures by nasoendoscopy, and instrumental measurement by nasometry. Assessments were performed preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Assessment of VP closure, perceptual rating of hypernasality and nasal emission, nasalance, and amount of maxillary advancement. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in any of the outcome measures between the 10 subjects with conventional Le Fort I osteotomy and the 12 subjects with maxillary distraction: hypernasality (chi-square = 3.850, p = 0.221), nasal emission (chi-square = 0.687, p = 0.774), VP gap size (chi-square = 1.527, p = 0.635, and nasalance (t = -0.145, p = 0.886). There was no correlation between amount of maxillary advancement and any of the outcome measures (p = .05 for all). Changes in VP gap size and resonance are described. CONCLUSION: Results need to be interpreted with caution because of the small sample size and early follow-up. However, this study utilized an assessment protocol involving a variety of outcome measures and careful consideration of reliability factors, which can be a model for further and follow-up studies.     

Preoperative pharyngeal depth is associated with postoperative velopharyngeal function following primary cleft palate repair at the age of five and above

To determine prognostic factors for postoperative velopharyngeal function following the primary cleft palate repair at the age of five and above.This study reviewed patients with cleft palate who had undergone Furlow palatoplasty at age 5 or older from 2009 to 2014. We obtained intraoperative measurements, including velar length, pharyngeal depth, cleft width, maxillary width, cleft palate index (cleft width/maxillary width) and palatopharyngeal ratio (velar length/pharyngeal depth), as well as speech evaluation results at least 1 year after surgery. Logistic regression and retrospective analyses were performed to determine factors associated with speech performance after the primary cleft palate repair.Among the six intraoperative measurements of velopharyngeal morphology, only pharyngeal depth was incorporated into the regression model, and was found to have an inverse association with postoperative velopharyngeal function, Exp (B) 0.883 (95% CI 0.798-0.976). Moreover, a pharyngeal depth greater than 16 mm was significantly associated with a higher risk of postoperative velopharyngeal insufficiency (P < 0.01).Pharyngeal depth is potentially a prognostic indicator for the primary management of cleft palate in older patients. Pharyngoplasty may need to be considered when the pharyngeal depth is large and the patient’s access to surgery is limited.     

Subnasal modified Le Fort I osteotomy: Indications and results

PurposeTo study the possible morphologic changes in the nose after subnasal modified Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy to correct class III dentofacial deformities in patients with considered normal nasal morphology.Material and methodsFifteen patients (7 males, 8 females) requiring maxillary advancement to treat class III dentofacial deformities were studied prospectively between January 2004 and January 2011. All the patients had an adequate projection of the nasal tip preoperatively preventing a conventional Le Fort I osteotomy. Patients received preoperatively (T1), 6 months after surgery (T2), and 12 months after the initial surgical procedure (T3) lateral cephalograms, CT-3D studies and clinical nose analysis to measure different morphologic variables including: the alar/nose base width, nasal tip protrusion and nasal bridge length using a digital sliding calliper directly on the soft-tissue surface of the face.ResultsMean age was 26.2 years, range 20–36 years. A significant advancement of the maxilla was noted postoperatively (mean 7.5 mm). After surgery the different anthropometric variables of the nasal region analysed had not suffered any significant variation. No significant differences were found when comparing T2 with T3 measures. No significant complications were found.ConclusionThe results indicated that maxillary advancement using a subnasal modified Le Fort I osteotomy can prevent undesirable soft tissue changes of the nose when anterior repositioning of the maxilla is indicated in patients with preoperatively normal nasal morphology.     

Le Fort Ⅰ型截骨术对上颌后缩患者腭咽部结构影响的研究

目的:探讨上颌Le Fort Ⅰ型截骨术对上颌后缩患者腭咽部结构的影响.方法:选择2007-2009年行上颌Le Fort Ⅰ型截骨术的上颌后缩伴随下颌前突患者42例(男20例,女22例,平均年龄21.6岁),所有患者在术前、术后1周、术后1年拍摄静止位头颅定位侧位片,然后对腭咽部软组织结构指标进行测量分析.结果:上颌...     

Relapse-related factors of Le Fort I osteotomy in cleft lip and palate patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

A systematic review search was based on the PICOS approach, as follows: population: cleft lip and palate patients; intervention: Le Fort I osteotomy; comparator: different surgical protocols; outcome: stability, recurrence or surgical complications; study designs: only case reports were excluded from the review. No restrictions were placed on language or year of publication. Risk of bias was analyzed, heterogeneity was assessed, and subgroup analysis was performed using a level of significance of 1% (p = 0.01).The search identified 248 citations, from which 29 studies were selected and a total of 797 patients enrolled. The level of agreement between the authors was considered excellent (k = 0.810 for study selection and k = 0.941 for study eligibility). Our results reported a mean maxillary advancement of 5.69 mm, a mean vertical downward/upward of 2.85/−2.02 mm and a mean clockwise rotation of 4.15°. Greater surgical relapse rates were reported for vertical downward movement (−1.13 mm, 39.6%), followed by clockwise rotation (−1.41°, 33.9%), sagittal (−0.99 mm, 17.4%) and vertical upward (0.11 mm, 5.4%) movements. No relevance was found regarding the type of cleft, the type of Le Fort I osteotomy, concomitant bone grafting, surgical overcorrection, postoperative rigid or elastic intermaxillary fixation, or retention splint.Study limitations were heterogeneity and the low number of high-quality studies. In spite of reported high relapse rates, Le Fort I osteotomy for maxillary reposition is the first-choice procedure for selected cleft lip and palate patients in whom extensive maxillary movements are not required, because of its safety and its three-dimensional movement versatility in one-step surgery. Otherwise, distraction osteogenesis should be considered as the gold standard treatment.     

Maxillary distraction versus orthognathic surgery in cleft lip and palate patients: effects on speech and velopharyngeal function

This clinical randomized controlled trial was performed to compare the effects of distraction osteogenesis (DO) and conventional orthognathic surgery (CO) on velopharyngeal function and speech outcomes in cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients. Twenty-one CLP patients who required maxillary advancement ranging from 4 to 10 mm were recruited and randomly assigned to either CO or DO. Evaluation of resonance and nasal emission, nasoendoscopic velopharyngeal assessment and nasometry were performed preoperatively and at a minimum of two postoperative times: 3–8 months (mean 4 months) and 12–29 months (mean 17 months). Results showed no significant differences in speech and velopharyngeal function changes between the two groups. No correlation was found between the amount of advancement and the outcome measures. It was concluded that DO has no advantage over CO for the purpose of preventing velopharyngeal incompetence and speech disturbance in moderate cleft maxillary advancement.     

What is the relapse after Le Fort I maxillary advancement in cleft lip and palate patients? A systematic review

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Le Fort I osteotomy is the most common procedure for maxillary advancement in cleft patients, and a significant relapse is expected in the postoperative period....     

Velopharyngeal changes after maxillary distraction in cleft patients using a rigid external distraction device: A retrospective study

Objective:To evaluate early and late velopharyngeal changes in cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients after use of the Rigid External Distractor (RED) device and to correlate these changes to the amount of maxillary advancement.Materials and Methods:Thirty Class III CLP patients were included in the study. Maxillary advancement was performed using the RED device in combination with titanium miniplates and screws for anchorage. Lateral cephalograms, nasometer, and nasopharyngoscope records were taken before distraction, immediately after distraction, and 1 year after distraction. A paired t-test was used to detect differences at P < .05.Results:SNA angle and A point and ANS to Y axis were significantly increased after maxillary distraction (P  =  .0001). Statistically significant increases in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal depths, velar angle, and need ratio were also found (P  =  .0001). Nasalance scores showed a significant increase (P  =  .008 for nasal text and .044 for oral text). A significant positive correlation was observed between the amount of maxillary advancement and the increase in nasopharyngeal depth and hypernasality (P  =  .012 and .026, respectively).Conclusions:Nasopharyngeal function was deteriorated after maxillary advancement in CLP patients. There was a significant positive correlation between the amount of maxillary advancement and the increase in nasopharyngeal depth and hypernasality.