Facial growth in patients with isolated cleft palate treated with minimal incision technique compared to a normal population-a cephalometric study at 10 and 16 years of age.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the result of a novel palatoplasty (minimal incision technique) for closure of an isolated cleft palate (ICP) at 10 and 16 years of age, concerning facial growth, compared to a normal population. SUBJECTS: Treated group: 55 non-syndromic Caucasian children born with an ICP between 1987 and 2001. The children were treated surgically with a one-stage palatoplasty at a mean age of 13 months. Control group: 110 Caucasian children with normal occlusion with no history of clefts or orthodontic intervention. METHOD: The treated children (25 boys, 30 girls) were matched (gender and age) with the children in the control group. A retrospective evaluation at 10 (mean 10.5) and 16 (mean 16.0) years of age was performed by analysis of lateral cephalograms. Fifteen variables were evaluated. Ninety-nine per cent confidence intervals were calculated. Two-way factorial ANOVA and mixed-model analysis were performed. RESULTS: Treated patients compared to the control group showed: at 10 years of age, smaller mandible (P = 0.001) and reduced posterior upper and total face heights (P ≤ 0.001); at 10 and 16 years of age, a retrognathic (P ≤ 0.001), smaller (P ≤ 0.006) and with an increased posterior inclination of the maxilla (P < 0.001), as well as a retrognathic mandible (P ≤ 0.006). CONCLUSION: The craniofacial morphology at 10 and 16 years of age in patients born with an ICP and treated with the minimal incision technique differs compared to the morphology of a normal control group born without a cleft. Retrognathic maxillas and a smaller and posteriorly inclined maxilla were found in the treated group.

Minimal incision palatoplasty with or without muscle reconstruction in patients with isolated cleft palate-a cephalometric study at 5 and 10 years.

OBJECTIVE: To compare differences in facial growth in patients with isolated clefts of the hard and/or soft palate treated with the minimal incision technique without (MI) or with muscle reconstruction (MMI). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A consecutive series of 170 Caucasian children born with isolated cleft palate were studied. Individuals with other craniofacial malformations, apart from Pierre Robin sequence (PRS), were excluded. The patients were treated surgically with MI (n = 85) or MMI (n = 85) palatoplasty (mean age: 13 months) and divided further into two subgroups: clefts within the soft palate only (small cleft, n = 51) and within the hard and soft palate (big cleft, n = 119). A retrospective evaluation at 5 (mean 5.4) and 10 (mean 10.3) years was performed using lateral cephalograms. Twelve skeletal and one soft tissue measurement was evaluated. Both 95% and 99% confidence intervals were calculated, two-way ANOVA and mixed model analysis was performed including/excluding PRS. RESULTS: At 5 years, statistically significant increased inclination of the palatal plane in the big MMI cleft group (P < 0.01), increased posterior upper face height (P < 0.01), and longer mandibular length (P < 0.001) in the small MI cleft group was observed. At 10 years, statistically significant increased inclination of the palatal plane (P < 0.001), decreased posterior upper face height (P < 0.001), and longer palatal length (P < 0.01) was seen in the big MMI group. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective single centre study, limited sample size, three surgeons. CONCLUSION: Minor differences in craniofacial morphology were found between patients with isolated clefts treated with MI or MMI technique and between small and big cleft lengths.

Facial Growth at 5 and 10 Years After Veau-Wardill-Kilner Versus Minimal-Incision Technique Repair of Isolated Cleft Palate.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the Veau-Wardill-Kilner technique with the Minimal-Incision technique repair of isolated clefts of the hard and soft palate regarding facial growth at 5 and 10 years of age. DESIGN: Retrospective study of lateral cephalograms. SETTING: Hospital and university based. PATIENTS: A consecutive series of 145 Caucasian nonsyndromic children born with isolated cleft palate between 1980 and 1996 were studied. Children with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) were included in the study. The patients were divided into 4 groups: 2 groups regarding surgical technique and 2 groups regarding cleft length. INTERVENTION: Veau-Wardill-Kilner or Minimal-Incision palatoplasty. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Eleven skeletal and 1 soft tissue measurement were evaluated from lateral cephalograms taken at 5 and 10 years of age. RESULTS: Only minor differences in cephalometric morphology were found between the Veau-Wardill-Kilner technique group and the Minimal-Incision technique group. Similar results were found independent of cleft length or the inclusion of PRS in the sample. CONCLUSION: The craniofacial cephalometric morphology at 5 and 10 years of age in patients with isolated cleft palate is similar between the Veau-Wardill-Kilner and the Minimal-Incision technique group.

Minimal incision palatoplasty with or without muscle reconstruction in patients with isolated cleft palate: a cast and medical records analysis.

Objectives: To compare the minimal incision (MI) technique with the minimal incision including muscle reconstruction (MMI) technique regarding surgical complications and dentoalveolar status at 5 years of age. Subjects and method: A consecutive series of 202 Caucasian non-syndromic children (apart from Pierre Robin Sequence) born with isolated cleft palate between 1987 and 2007 and treated with MI (n = 78) or MMI (n = 102) palatoplasty at a mean age of 12.7 (SD = 1.43) months in Stockholm. Twenty-two patients did not fulfill the inclusion criteria. The patients were divided into two subgroups: clefts within the soft palate only (small cleft, n = 50) and clefts within the hard and soft palate (big cleft, n = 130). Dental relations, structure of the palatal mucosa, and height of the palatal vault at 5 (mean age 5.3, range: 4.4-6.9) years of age were studied using plaster models. Time for surgery, blood loss, complications in the immediate postoperative period, frequency of fistulas, and additional pharyngeal flap surgery were evaluated. Student's t-test, chi-square test and 95 per cent confidence intervals were calculated. Results: MMI compared to MI technique result in statistically significant increased operation time, less need for pharyngeal flap surgery, and to shallower palatal vault. Big clefts result in statistically significant increased operation time and need for pharyngeal flap surgery. Dental relations were the same in all groups. Limitations: Retrospective single centre study, limited sample size, more than one surgeon. Conclusions: The muscle reconstruction results in a reduced subsequent need for pharyngeal flap surgery, but to shallower palatal vault and demand for almost double operation time. The dental relations were the same in all groups.

Evaluation of the variable anchorage straightwire technique using Ricketts' growth prediction.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the treatment effects of the variable anchorage straightwire technique (VAST) in Angle Class II patients using Ricketts' growth prediction analysis. The subjects belonged to two groups: a control, consisting of 30 untreated Class II Swedish individuals (20 girls, 10 boys) with a mean age of 11.2 years, and the other 29 Swedish patients (14 girls, 15 boys), mean age 12.6 years, post-normal and with an increased overbite (OB), treated with the VAST. Two lateral cephalograms were available for every individual. Growth prediction according to Ricketts' visual treatment objective (VTO) was used to estimate the expected growth increments for a 2-year period. It was first used in the control group to determine its validity and then applied to the treated group to evaluate the net effects of treatment. Cephalometric evaluation based on Ricketts' analysis and additional dentoalveolar variables were carried out. Statistical analysis was undertaken using a paired Student's t- and Wilcoxon signed ranks tests. The method of predicting growth according to the VTO was, in general, valid in the untreated subjects, apart from the inclination of the lower incisors, where the proclination had been underestimated. In the treated group, the net effects of treatment were significant for the dentoalveolar variables: reduction of overjet (OJ) and OB, proclination and relative intrusion of the lower incisors, extrusion of the molars, and increase in lower face height. The growth prediction method according to VTO was found to be valid in a sample of Swedish post-normal children concerning skeletal and dentoalveolar variables. The VAST treatment net effects in these growing patients were achieved mainly by dentoalveolar changes.

Evaluation of the validity of tooth size and arch width measurements using conventional and three-dimensional virtual orthodontic models.

Measurements and different analyses of dental casts are essential for precise diagnosis of an orthodontic case. At present, virtual computerized models, such as OrthoCAD, are available for clinicians, supplemented by dedicated software for performing needed measurements on them. The purpose of this study was to test the accuracy of measuring casts with the aid of calipers or OrthoCAD and compare these two techniques. Twenty setups using artificial teeth corresponding to various malocclusions were created. Impressions were taken of them, providing 20 plaster and 20 virtual orthodontic models. Measurements of mesiodistal tooth dimension as well as intercanine and intermolar width were made on both. Additionally, values of tooth size were calculated from the isolated artificial teeth removed from the setups and of arch width from the existing setups. The resulting values were compared by the use of nonparametric statistics, and methods' errors were also calculated. Results showed the methods being highly valid and reproducible for both tooth size and arch width. For the tested clinically applicable methods, measurement with digital calipers on plaster models showed the highest accuracy and reproducibility, closely followed by OrthoCAD. Digital calipers seem to be a more suitable instrument for scientific work. However, OrthoCAD's accuracy is clinically acceptable, and most likely, considering its present advantages and future possibilities, the examined or an equivalent 3D virtual models' procedure would become the standard for orthodontic clinical use.

The variable anchorage straight wire technique compared with the straight wire technique in deep overbite correction.

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the treatment results and the number of required treatment appointments between the variable anchorage straight wire technique (VAST) and the straight wire (SW) technique. The subjects were 53 Caucasian patients of both sexes (25 males and 28 females, mean age 13.5 years at the start of treatment), with an overjet > or = 4 mm and an overbite > or = 3 mm. The patients were divided into four groups, VAST (n = 31) or SW (n = 22), extraction or non-extraction, and were treated by the same orthodontist. Variables from two lateral cephalograms obtained before and at the completion of active treatment, and the number of scheduled appointments were compared between the two techniques. The main difference between the two techniques was the bracket design. With the VAST, the bracket allowed both tipping and parallel movements with the possibility to combine double archwires. Due to the influence of the Begg technique, no extra-oral traction was needed in the VAST groups and Class II elastics were used at the start of treatment. Both techniques seemed to produce equal treatment results. However, in this study, it was shown that in deep overbite correction, the VAST required fewer scheduled appointments than the SW technique.