One-stage closure of isolated cleft palate with the Veau-Wardill-Kilner V to Y pushback procedure or the Cronin modification. IV. Cephalometric comparison of transverse dentofacial morphology.

The transverse dentofacial morphology of 116 consecutive patients with isolated cleft palate was studied by PA-headfilms at 17-20 years of age. One-stage soft and hard palate closure had been carried out at the mean age of 1.8 years using the Veau-Wardill-Kilner or the Cronin mucoperiosteal palatal V-Y pushback technique. In multivariate statistical analyses no significant findings were observed with regard to craniofacial measurements and operation method, additional palate operations, cleft extent at birth or associated minor anomalies. The effect of sex was consistently in the same direction with males having larger values. The bizygomatic width (Zydx-Zysin) was greater for those who had familial disposition for clefts. No asymmetries were detected.