Growth of the middle face in experimental early bony fusion of the vomeropremaxillary, vomeromaxillary and mid-palatal sutural system. A roentgencephalometric study in the domestic cat.

In 23 domestic cats, 21/2 months of age, the junction between the nasal septum/vomer and the hard palate was extirpated along with the full extent of the mid-palatal suture. Under the cover of undisrupted oral- and nasal mucoperiosteum the resulting osseous defect was then left for healing. In seven animals histology showed that the vomer, the premaxilla and maxilla had formed one continuous osseous entity with no sign of the sutures ordinarily separating these bones. Neither could a septo-premaxillary ligament be found. By cephalometry, the ensuing mid-facial growth in these cats was compared to that of seven unoperated controls which possessed an unobliterated vomero-mid-palatal suture system. The animals were followed until 13 months of age, i.e. till after cessation of general growth. The expansion of the palate appeared, in the operated cats, to be significantly reduced, indicating that growth in the mid-palatal suture is essential for development in the transversal direction. Concerning vertical and antero-posterior mid-facial growth, however, no disparities were found. Consequently it can be deduced that, at least after the early postnatal period, growth in the basal part of the nasal septum/vomer is of no concern for mid-facial development in the sagittal plane.