Twenty-two consecutive patients with cleft lip and palate, treated with maxillary advancements and distraction osteogenesis, were followed up for between five and 13 years. They were divided into two groups, those who were still growing and those whose growth was completed at the time of surgery. The group that was still growing showed an overall relapse rate of 42% postoperatively, while those undergoing surgery after the completion of their growth were more stable, with a relapse rate of 17.7%. While it is good to have these figures, perhaps one explanation for the high relapse rate in growing children could be that the average distraction achieved (22.2mm) was proportionately much more than the adult group (17.7mm).
Long-term follow-up of maxillary advancement in cleft palate cases
Reviewed by Martyn Webster
Long-term follow-up of large maxillary advancements with distraction osteogenesis in growing and non-growing cleft lip and palate patients.
