The results demonstrate the large variation in the severity of unilateral cleft lip and palate deformity at birth. Patients with large clefts and small arch circumference, arch length, or both demonstrated less favorable maxillary growth than those with small clefts and large arch circumference or arch length at birth.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine possible associations between severity of clefting in infants and maxillary growth in children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. Design: This was a retrospective study of measurements made on infant maxillary study casts and maxillary cephalometric variables obtained at 5 to 6 years of follow-up. Setting: The study was performed at the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery of New York University Medical Center, New York, New York. Patients: Twenty-four consecutive nonsyndromic unilateral complete cleft lip and palate patients treated during the years 1987 to 1994. Interventions: All the patients received uniform treatment (i.e., presurgical orthopedics followed by gingivoperiosteoplasty to close the alveolar cleft combined with repair of the lip and nose in a single stage at the age of 3 to 4 months). Closure of the palate was performed at the age of 12 to 14 months. Results: Infant maxillary study cast measurements correlated in a statistically significant manner with maxillary cephalometric measurements at age 5 to 6 years. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the large variation in the severity of unilateral cleft lip and palate deformity at birth. Patients with large clefts and small arch circumference, arch length, or both demonstrated less favorable maxillary growth than those with small clefts and large arch circumference or arch length at birth.

Distraction osteogenesis of the craniofacial skeleton has become a widely accepted, safe, and effective means of craniofacial reconstructive surgery. Despite excellent results in general, there are still some uncertainties related to the procedure, such as development of an anterior open bite (AOB) during mandibular distraction. The aim of this study was to examine whether 'moulding of the generate', i.e. use of intermaxillary elastics during the active distraction phase is possible to close the mandibular plane angle and open bite. Three subjects, 13- and 15-year-old males and a 7-year-old female, underwent mandibular linear and angular bilateral distraction osteogenesis with moulding of the generate. Lateral cephalograms were obtained before the introduction of elastics and following distraction, once the activation was stopped and the patients were ready for the consolidation phase. Conventional cephalometric measurements were used to assess possible changes in the mandibular plane angle and incisor position. Three different anchorage systems (dental, orthopaedic, and skeletal) were used for placement of the intermaxillary elastics. Cephalometric examination showed that the mandibular plane angle was decreased during active distraction osteogenesis with the introduction of elastics and angulation of the distraction device. Depending on the type of elastic anchorage system, smaller or greater amounts of extrusion of the incisors were noted. Moulding of the generate during active distraction can be performed to reduce the mandibular plane angle and open bite. To prevent unwanted dentoalveolar changes from occurring during elastic traction, skeletal rather than dental fixation of the elastics is recommended. Intrusive mechanics may be incorporated into the orthodontic appliances to balance extrusive force by the moulding elastics.

Successful distraction is dependent on accurate prediction of outcomes. This study demonstrates that the vector of distraction predictably affects the mandibular response during bilateral distraction osteogenesis but contradicts the a priori hypothesis.

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