Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Jun;25(6):3809-3821.
doi: 10.1007/s00784-020-03711-9. Epub 2021 Jan 6.

Palatal growth changes in newborns with unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate from birth until 12 months after early neonatal cheiloplasty using morphometric assessment

Lenka Kožejová Jaklová  1 , Eva Hoffmannová  2 , Ján Dupej  2   3 , Jiří Borský  4 , Michal Jurovčík  5 , Miloš Černý  6 , Jana Velemínská  2
Affiliations

Palatal growth changes in newborns with unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate from birth until 12 months after early neonatal cheiloplasty using morphometric assessment

Lenka Kožejová Jaklová et al. Clin Oral Investig. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare palatal growth changes in infants with complete unilateral (UCLP) or bilateral (BCLP) cleft lip and palate during the first year of life.

Materials and methods: Upper dental arches of 68 neonates with UCLP and BCLP were evaluated using 2D and 3D morphometry based on dental casts obtained in two age categories (T0 before early neonatal cheiloplasty-UCLP 4 ± 3 days, BCLP 6 ± 5 days; T1 before palatoplasty-UCLP 10 ± 2 months, BCLP 12 ± 3 months).

Results: Intensive palatal growth was manifested in both directions of the palate. Palatal growth in the anterior direction was not restricted, despite the intercanine (CC´) and anterior (LL´) widths being significantly narrowed in the BCLP group (CC´ p = 0.019, LL´ p = 0.009). The posterior dental arches were significantly enlarged (UCLP p ≤ 0.001; BCLP p ≤ 0.001). The negative effect of cleft severity on palatal length was not confirmed (p = 0.802). Variability of the palate was immense mainly in BCLP infants (T0); however, it decreased in both cleft types, confirming the formative effect of palatal growth leading to alveolar cleft closure (UCLP p ≤ 0.001; BCLP p = 0.006 on the right, 0.005 on the left).

Conclusions: Both analyzed cleft groups (UCLP, BCLP) grew favorably during the first year of life, and the palatal growth was not limited in any direction.

Clinical relevance: Geometric morphometry allowed a comprehensive analysis of the palate, which can contribute to the improvement of surgical methods.

Keywords: Bilateral cleft lip and palate; Classic morphometry; Early neonatal cheiloplasty; Geometric morphometry; Unilateral cleft lip and palate; Upper dental arches.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Bernheim N, Georges M, Malevez C, De Mey A, Mansbach A (2006) Embryology and epidemiology of cleft lip and palate. B-ENT 2(Suppl 4):11–19 - PubMed
    1. Latief BS, Lekkas KC, Schols JGJH, Fudalej PS, Kuijpers MAR (2012) Width and elevation of the palatal shelves in unoperated unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate patients in the permanent dentition. J Anat 220:263–270. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01468.x - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. Ross RB (1987) Treatment variables affecting facial growth in complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. Cleft Palate J 24:5–77 - PubMed
    1. Kilpelainen PV, Laine-Alava MT, Lammi S (1996) Palatal morphology and type of clefting. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 33:477–482. https://doi.org/10.1597/1545-1569_1996_033_0477_pmatoc_2.3.co_2 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Semb G (1991) A study of facial growth in patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate treated by the Oslo CLP team. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 28:22–28. https://doi.org/10.1597/1545-1569_1991_028_0022_asofgi_2.3.co_2 - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources