Clinical Investigation of Congenital Factor Affecting Craniofacial Morphology of Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate in Japanese Patients

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the craniofacial morphology of Japanese patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate and to evaluate the multiple congenital factors that affects craniofacial morphology in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients. Material and Methods: Lateral cephalograms of 140 subjects with unilateral cleft lip and palate were taken before any orthodontic treatment and alveolar bone graft. Subjects mean age was 6.85 ±1.56 years. Primary surgeries performed by surgeons from Hokkaido University Hospital. The craniofacial morphology of the 140 subjects was assessed by angular and linear cephalometric measurements. Gender, side of cleft, complete/incomplete type of cleft, presence/absence of lateral incisor in the affected side, family history of cleft and family history of skeletal Class III was chosen as congenital factors. To compare the assessments using congenital factors affecting craniofacial morphology in the unilateral cleft lip and palate subjects, angular and linear cephalometric measured values from each individual subject (control group) were converted into Z scores in relation to the means and standard deviation of the two parameters. Results: Twelve out of 13 craniofacial morphology outcomes were insignificant in 5 out of 6 dependent variables. Only 1 dependent variable showed 3/13 significant differences. Conclusion: Current study revealed the evidence that there were almost no significant differences in the craniofacial morphology outcome among various congenital factors. This will provide base line information and help determine the effectiveness of such factors.