The influence of the extend of isolated palatal cleft on craniofacial morphology

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine what influence that extent of cleft may have on craniofacial morphology in children with a cleft palate by retrospectively comparing craniofacial morphologies in age-matched prepubertal children.

Materials and methods: Using a retrospective study design, we compared the craniofacial morphology cephalometrically, of 14 Japanese girls at age 9 years with a cleft soft palate (Group_CSP), with 13 age-matched Japanese girls with cleft soft and hard palate, not extending as far as the incisive foramen (Group_CPNIF), and 12 age-matched Japanese girls with cleft soft and hard palate, extending as far as the incisive foramen (Group_CPIF), living in the same region (Hokkaido, Japan). None of them had received dentofacial orthopaedic treatment. P < .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: In Group_CPNIF, the maxilla was significantly short (P < .05), the anterior parts of the maxilla being retruded (P < .05), compared with Group_CSP and, compared with Group_CPNIF, in Group_CPIF, anterior part of the maxilla was positioned posteriorly (P < .05), the maxillary body was significantly smaller (P < .01).

Conclusions: This study suggests that in prepubertal children, as the congenital defect in the tissue of the palate extended, the shortness in the anteroposterior maxillary length, accompanying anterior part of the maxilla in posterior position, was more marked.

Keywords: Cephalometrics; Cleft palate; Craniofacial morphology and growth; Extent of cleft.