[Morphology and spatial position of the mandible in complete unilateral cleft lip and palate individuals after one-stage repair of the cleft].

AIM: To compare the size and spatial position of the mandible in unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) individuals treated with one-stage repair of the lip and palate, with normal individuals.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

25 UCLP children aged 9-11 years, treated during the first year of life (average--9 months) compared with 25 subjects with normal morphology craniofacial skeleton. The measurements included: anterior and posterior facial height, mandibular plane angle, mandibular ramus, corpus and total length, Sella-Nasion-point B and Sella-Nasion-Pogonion angles. The difference between the groups was assessed by the T test for independent samples.

RESULTS

The mandibular anterior surface was retruded (SNB and SNPog angles were approximately 3 degrees less than in controls). The other variables measured in the cleft group showed no difference in comparison to the controls. In the cleft group, standard deviation was higher for most measurements.

CONCLUSIONS

Growth of the mandible in the UCLP subjects treated with a one-stage repair is close to normal. However, final verification of the mandibular growth will be possible after attainment of maturity.