RESUMO
The effect of orbicularis muscle repair on postoperative facial skeletal growth in bilateral cleft lip and palate patients was studied by analysis of cephalometric radiographs and dental casts. Sixty-two patients operated on between 1961-1989 were selected for the study. They were divided into three groups, group 1a (muscle repair; n = 12), group 1b (failed attempt at muscle repair; n = 5), and group 2 (no attempt at muscle repair; n = 45). Comparison of the morphological measurements among these three groups showed that there was a trend towards crossbite in the muscle repair group, but this difference was not significant. Mechanisms by which muscle repair might influence maxillofacial skeletal growth include the possibility that the area around the nasal septum might be the growth centre. The choice of operative technique in bilateral cleft lip and palate should be important.