Maxillary Growth in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients, With and Without Vomerine Flap Closure of the Hard Palate at the Time of Lip Repair

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.