The Effect Of Form and Dimension On The Management Of The Maxillary Arch In Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Conditions

Abstract

Over the past 28 years, a series of studies at the West Midlands Regional Plastic Unit has compared the maxillary arches at birth and 4 months of 30 normal children and two groups of children with unilateral cleft lip and palate, one of which had presurgical maxillary orthopaedic treatment and the other which did not. Other studies have compared the area of palatal mucosa at birth with the overall size of the arch at 5 years of age and have also assessed the long term effect of simultaneous lip and palate repair and presurgical treatment on the profile, occlusion and speech of the older patient. The paper summarises the findings of the investigations and considers how they have contributed to an understanding of the unilateral cleft lip and palate problem particularly with regard to the long term management of such cases and the provision of a suitable treatment protocol.

Key Words:

• unilateral cleft lip palate
• presurgical maxillary orthopaedics
• maxillary arch measurement
• simultaneous repair
• treatment protocol