Growth of the Facial Skeleton following the Malek Repair for Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Abstract

Variations in the surgical procedures used to repair a complete unilateral cleft lip and palate have differing effects on growth of the facial skeleton. In this study, cephalometric radiographs of the cases of Professor Rene Malek were analyzed. The sample consisted of 35 male patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate at a mean age of 10.1 years. Previous data from the cases of Dr. W.K. Lindsay in Ross (1987). Cephalometric data were compared with our sample. Results showed that the Malek protocol for surgical repair, as performed by Malek, produces excellent midface growth at 10 years of age.