The comparison of psychological adjustment of patients with cleft lip and palate after maxillary distraction osteogenesis and conventional orthognathic surgery.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare the psychological changes of patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) undergoing maxillary Le Fort I advancement by distraction osteogenesis (DO) and conventional orthognathic surgery (CO).

STUDY

DESIGN

Prospective randomized controlled study. Participants completed a set of questionnaires to measure their psychological states preoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULT: When compared with CO, CLP patients treated with DO had lower social self-esteem and higher social avoidance and distress levels during the first 3 postoperative months. Their self-esteem, social avoidance, and distress levels improved after the distractors were removed. Both CO and DO patients had similar levels of self-esteem, social avoidance, and distress levels 2 years postoperatively. The CLP patients treated with DO were more satisfied with their lives after 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS

DO may induce short-term distress to patients up to 3 months but CLP patients who received DO were more satisfied with their lives in the long term.