Bridging the Gap: Sella Turcica in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Patients.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to analyze the prevalence of sella turcica bridging and to measure the size of the sella turcica on profile cephalograms in a homogenous group of surgically repaired unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Patients: Preorthodontic lateral cephalometric radiographs of 64 UCLP individuals between the ages of 16 and 29 years along with an equal number of age- and sex-matched skeletal Class I controls.

Main Outcome Measures: The extent of calcification of the interclinoid ligament was quantified (completely calcified, partially calcified, no calcification) and mean values compared. Length, depth, and diameter of the sella turcica were also measured. The results were statistically analyzed using paired t test and Wilcoxon signed ranks test.

Results: Complete sella bridging of both type A (4.6%) and type B (21.7%) was significantly higher in UCLP patients. This has not been reported previously. Partial sella bridging was also higher in cleft patients as evaluated by two methods (42.18%, 39.06%). This study demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in all dimensions of sella turcica in UCLP patients.

Conclusions: The UCLP patients apparently had higher predilection for sella turcica bridging. The dimensions of sella turcica were also seen to be significantly smaller than the control group. Defective proliferation and deviated pathways of neural crest cell migration as well as premature rupture of contact between neuroepithelium and oral ectoderm as postulated causes are discussed.