Evaluation and comparison between effects of early and late palatoplasty on the mandibular morphology and spatial position with respect to the cranial base and maxilla: A two-dimensional retrospective study

Abstract

Background: This retrospective cephalometric study was designed to clarify the influence of the timing of surgical repair of cleft and its effect on mandibular growth and its position in the cleft patients which is questionable. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of timing of palate repair on the mandibular spatial position and morphology in relation to cranial base and maxilla in patients born with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) using Lateral Cephalograms. Material and Methods: This study was carried out on 20 surgically treated UCLP patients within the age group of 8–16 years. Twenty UCLP subjects were further divided into two groups (early palatal repair n = 10 and late palatal repair n = 10) according to their age at which initial hard palate repair was performed. Results: Stage of palatal repair had a significant effect on the Y-axis (P- 0.045) but there is no significant difference in the spatial position, size and morphology of mandible when compared in relation to anterior cranial base and in relation to maxilla. Conclusion: Timing of surgical repair of palate has no detrimental effects on the position and morphology of mandible in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

Keywords

• mandible
• morphology
• palatoplasty
• position