Long-term assessment of early alveolar bone grafts using three-dimensional computer-assisted tomography: a pilot study.

Fifteen patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate who had primary alveolar bone grafting were studied with computer-assisted tomography at a mean age of 12 years. Keeping the maxillary alveolar crest parallel to the plane of the scan, 1.5-mm cuts of the maxilla were made from the infraorbital rim to the gingival third of the crowns of the teeth.

Orthognathic surgery in cleft patients treated by early bone grafting.

For the past 25 years at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago a protocol has been followed for complete clefts that involves placement of an infant maxillary orthopedic appliance prior to lip closure, surgical closure of the lip, autogenous split-rib grafts to the alveolus to stabilize maxillary segments, and palatal closure, generally within the first year of life. The oldest 36 patients whose skeletal growth was for all practical purposes finished have been followed to determine the need for and type of orthognathic surgery. Of the total sample, 8 patients (22.

The case for early bone grafting in cleft lip and palate: a second report.

In 1982, the first long-term study of our early bone-grafting and infant maxillary orthopedic approach to newborn complete clefts of the lip, alveolus, and palate was published. The protocol and sequence of procedures were shown on the first 16 consecutively treated orthodontic patients, with a mean age of 14 years. Cephalometric analysis evaluated anteroposterior and vertical facial growth.

Dermal and epidermal response to soft-tissue expansion in the pig.

To evaluate the dermal and epidermal response to soft-tissue expansion in the pig, round tissue expanders were placed dorsally under tattooed patterns and inflated over 6 weeks. Surface area, skin thickness, histologic changes, and collagen content were evaluated at 6-week intervals. Epidermal thickening and dermal thinning were observed.