The Assessment of 3D Digital Models Using GOSLON Yardstick Index: Exploring Confounding Factors Responsible for Unfavourable Treatment Outcome in Multi-Population Children With UCLP

Abstract

To evaluate dental arch relationship (DAR) using GOSLON Yardstick and also to explore the association between multiple factors (age, gender, UCLP types, UCLP side, Family history of cleft, family history of Class III malocclusion, techniques of cheiloplasty, techniques of palatoplasty) and DAR in children unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) in different populations. Two hundred fifty-five laser scanned 3D digital models (LS3DM) of UCLP children (5–12 years) from Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan were included. The intra- and inter-examiner agreements were evaluated by kappa statistics, to compare the GOSLON mean score between the populations and to explore the responsible factors that affect DAR, one way ANOVA, and crude logistic regression analysis was used, respectively. The mean GOSLON score was 2.97; 3.40 and 3.09 in Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, respectively. Twenty seven, 40, and 30 subjects were in unfavourable (category rating 4 and 5) groups in Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, respectively. A significant association was found between techniques of palatoplasty (p = 0.03; p = 0.04 and p = 0.04 in Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, respectively) and unfavourable DAR. Different cheiloplasty techniques (p = 0.04) and gender (p = 0.03) also exhibited noteworthy associations with unfavourable DAR in the Bangladeshi population. Bardach techniques of palatoplasty were significantly associated with unfavourable DAR in all three populations. Moreover, male UCLP and modified Millard techniques of cheiloplasty were also associated with unfavourable DAR in the Bangladeshi population.

A Cross-Sectional Study of the Dental Arch Relationship and Palatal Morphology after Cleft Surgery in Italian Children with Unilateral Cleft and Lip Palate

“…The majority of available studies referred to Asian populations and reported conflicting results. Yew et al [ 17 ] did not find any association between sex and the DAR outcome in Malay UCLP subjects, while Haque et al [ 32 ] reported more favourable DARs among Bangladeshi females with UCLP. Considering the multitude of elements influencing the treatment of UCLP, it is difficult to explain the reasons for such findings.…”