| dc.description.abstract | Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare vertical maxillofacial
growth in patients born with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) who were
treated with one of two different surgical protocols.
Design: A retrospective cohort study.
Subjects: One hundred seventy-six consecutive patients with complete UCLP
treated at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden, were divided
into two groups: (1) the W-K group, consisting of 60 patients born
1965 to 1974 who were treated surgically according to a Wardill-Kilner (WK)
protocol, and (2) the Gothenburg DHPC group, consisting of 116 patients
born 1975 to 1995 who were treated surgically according to the
Gothenburg delayed hard palate closure (DHPC) protocol.
Methods: Cast models and lateral cephalograms obtained at 10 years of age
were analyzed.
Results: Patients treated according to the Gothenburg DHPC protocol had
significantly increased palatal vault height, anterior upper facial height, anterior
maxillary height, overbite, and maxillary inclination than patients treated
according to the W-K protocol. There were no differences in posterior upper
facial height or in posterior vertical maxillary height between the two groups.
Conclusion: There is increased palatal vault height, anterior upper facial
height, anterior maxillary vertical height, and overbite - and therefore increased
maxillary inclination at 10 years of age - in patients with complete
UCLP who were treated surgically according to the Gothenburg DHPC protocol
rather than the W-K protocol. The Gothenburg DHPC protocol can
therefore be considered to result in more favorable anterior vertical maxillary
growth compared to the W-K protocol. | sv |
