RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To compare arch widths of patients with isolated Robin sequence (IRS) operated using modified von Langenbeck technique and modified Furlow double-opposing z-plasty. DESIGN: Retrospective, transversal study. SETTING: Hospital of Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo, Bauru, Brazil. PATIENTS: Three groups of patients were analyzed. Group VL comprised 30 patients with IRS operated by von Langenbeck technique (mean age of 8.1 years); group FL included 30 patients with IRS operated by Furlow technique (7.6 years); and the control group included 30 noncleft patients with class I occlusion (7.4 years). The palate repair was performed between 1.0 and 1.7 years of age in both study groups. Transversal measurements of maxillary and mandibular arches were performed digitally on 3D digital models. STATISTIC: The intergroup comparison was performed using analysis of variance and Tukey test. An independent t test was used to compare the complete and incomplete types of cleft in both study groups. The level of significance was 5%. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found between the VL and FL groups for maxillary and mandibular arches. However, both groups showed decreased transversal dimensions compared with the control group (P < .01) for both dental arches. No differences for arch widths were observed for complete or incomplete palatal clefts. CONCLUSIONS: No influence of palate repair techniques was observed in the transversal arch widths in patients with IRS. Children with IRS operated for palate repair showed constriction of the maxillary and mandibular dental arches compared with noncleft children regardless the palatal cleft extension.