Effect of infant surgical orthopedic treatment on facial growth in preadolescent children with unilateral and bilateral complete cleft lip and palate.

Objective: To examine the impact of dentofacial infant orthopedic treatment (DFIO) on facial growth in preadolescent children with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCCLP) and bilateral complete cleft lip and palate (BCCLP).

Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients with UCCLP and BCCLP treated at a single center. The treatment group had DFIO, and the control group did not have DFIO. Regression models were used to compare outcomes between the study and control groups.

Results: The study sample comprised 81 patients (54 had DFIO and 27 did not have DFIO). Among those with UCCLP, those who had DFIO had a shorter maxillary length (-2.12 mm; P = .04) and shorter lower anterior facial height (-2.77 mm; P = .04) compared with controls. Among those with BCCLP, there were no significant differences between the treatment and control groups.

Conclusions: DFIO treatment could result in shorter maxillary length and lower anterior facial height in those with UCCLP.