The effect of gingivoperiosteoplasty on facial growth in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate.

OBJECTIVE: Gingivoperiosteoplasty performed at the time of lip repair of cleft patients is one kind of alveolar repair. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of gingivoperiosteoplasty on facial growth of patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).

DESIGN: Retrospective study.

PATIENTS: Sixty-two consecutive patients with nonsyndromic complete unilateral cleft lip/palate with 5-year-olds' record were included in this retrospective study.

INTERVENTIONS: All the patients had received nasoalveolar molding treatment before cheiloplasty at the age of 3 to 6 months. Twenty-six patients had gingivoperiosteoplasty performed at the time of cheiloplasty and function as the GPP group. Thirty-six patients did not have gingivoperiosteoplasty at the time of cheiloplasty and function as the non-GPP group.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cephalometry was used to evaluate the facial growth at 5 years of age in the two groups of patients.

RESULTS: Gingivoperiosteoplasty had significant effects on the maxillary position (SNA), intermaxillary position (ANB), maxillary length (PMP-ANS), and maxillary alveolar length (PMP-A) at the age of 5 years. The SNA and ANB angles were larger in non-GPP group than in the GPP group by 3.0 degrees and 2.6 degrees , respectively. The maxillary length (PMP-ANS) and maxillary alveolar length (PMP-A) were larger in the non-GPP group than in the GPP group by 2.1 and 2.9 mm, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with UCLP, the sagittal growth of the maxilla would be affected more adversely in the GPP group than in the non-GPP group at the age of 5 years.