Abstract
Objective:
To assess the midterm effect on maxillary growth of vomerine flap (VF) closure of the hard palate, at the time of lip repair.
Design:
A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected nonrandomized data.
Interventions:
Consecutive participants with a unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) were operated on, at 3 months of age, by the same surgeon. They were divided into 2 groups, those who had a VF and those who did not (non-VF).
Setting:
Participants were treated at 2 hospitals in the United Kingdom.
Participants:
Twenty-eight participants in the VF group and 24 participants in the non-VF group attended follow-up at 10 years of age.
Main Outcome Measures:
Standardized lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken at 10 years. Following tracing and digitization, parameters to assess the maxillary growth were analyzed.
Results:
No statistically significant differences were found in the anterior–posterior or vertical skeletal cephalometric parameters.
Conclusions:
The results of this study support the statement that VF repair does not significantly affect maxillary growth in patients with a UCLP, when assessed cephalometrically at 10 years of age. It should be noted that at this age, growth is not yet complete.
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