Rapid Maxillary Expansion After Alveolar Bone Grafting With rhBMP-2 in UCLP Evaluated by Means of CBCT.

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the feasibility of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) after alveolar bone grafting (ABG) in complete unilateral cleft lip, alveolus and palate (UCLP) without damage to the grafted area.

SETTING

Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies (HRAC), University of São Paulo, Department of Orthodontics.

PATIENT: A case report of a 10-year-old boy with a complete UCLP who was treated with RME after secondary ABG procedure. RME was performed 1.3 years after the bone grafting with rhBMP-2 in collagen membrane.

RESULT: Postexpansion cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) axial and coronal sections demonstrated the opening of the midpalatal suture in the premaxilla without damages to the alveolar bone grafting region. Postretention CBCT images showed bone formation at the split midsuture of the premaxilla.

CONCLUSION

Rapid maxillary expansion performed after ABG with rH-BMP2 led to complete opening of the premaxillary midline suture without compromising the integrity of the grafted alveolar cleft.