Bone grafting at the stage of mixed and permanent dentition in patients with clefts of the lip and primary palate

Secondary bone grafting of a residual alveolar cleft has become a well established procedure. However, little attention has been paid to the benefits of these bone grafts in patients with clefts of the lip and alveolus only. This retrospective and comparative study includes 21 patients who had received a secondary or a late secondary bone grafting procedure from tibia and whose mean clinical and radiographic follow-up after the bone graft was 5.5 years. Eighteen patients treated without bone grafting served as controls. Length and width of cleft, presence or absence of permanent lateral incisor, size of nasal floor bony defect, and interdental alveolar bony height in the cleft area were investigated. The results showed that bone grafting was indicated particularly in wide clefts with missing lateral incisors. Eruption of a tooth close to the cleft was facilitated and the bony support for teeth neighboring the cleft was improved. In some cases, additional support of the alar base of the nose was achieved and closure of an oronasal fistula facilitated. A further advantage of bone grafting of clefts of the primary palate was that it might make it possible to insert a titanium implant carrying an artificial tooth in the cleft area.     

Reconstruction of residual alveolar cleft defects with one-stage mandibular bone grafts and osseointegrated implants

PURPOSE: This study evaluates a treatment regimen for reconstruction of residual maxillary alveolar cleft defects consisting of mandibular bone grafting and immediate implant installation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixteen cleft patients (five female and 11 male) had residual cleft defects of the alveolar ridge reconstructed with bone grafts from the mandibular symphyseal region. The bone graft was pretapped at the donor site before fixation in the residual ridge with Br?nemark implants. Twenty implants were installed according to this concept. The period of observation ranged from 36 to 69 months, with a mean of 48 months after implant installation. RESULTS: Five patients developed wound dehiscenses that resulted in total or partial bone graft sequestration. Two implants were lost, one due to sequestration and the other due to mobility at the abutment procedure; 18 implants were still well functioning at the end of the observation period. However, all patients showed significant periimplant bone resorption after this one-stage treatment. CONCLUSION: Because of the observed complication rate, the one-stage procedure may not be optimal for reconstructing residual cleft defects.     

Endosseous implants for prosthetic rehabilitation in bone grafted alveolar clefts

The authors report their experience in the surgical and prosthetic rehabilitation of three patients affected by sequelae of cleft lip and palate, with residual alveolar cleft and absence of maxillary anterior teeth. The patients were treated by means of late secondary bone grafting of the alveolar cleft, followed by the insertion of endosseous titanium plasma-sprayed implants (IMZ). After a further healing period (6-12 months) fixed dental prostheses were constructed. Preliminary results from this series have shown how dental prostheses supported by endosseous implants in grafted alveolar clefts are a very reliable possibility in dental rehabilitation of this malformation.     

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. A single operator reformatted the data into three-dimensional images using the Maxiview 3200 computer workstation. This allowed examination of the position, size, and spatial relationship of the grafted area and quantification of the amount of bone coverage of root surface and bone height of the alveolus in or adjacent to the graft site. Ten patients showed a lateral incisor in the line of the cleft. The average bony coverage of these tooth roots was 76.5 percent. In the five patients in whom there was lateral incisor agenesis, the canine root had average bony coverage of 82.6 percent. The average height of bone at the lateral incisor was 8.7 mm; at the canine, 14.1 mm. In two patients in whom there was only 42 percent tooth root coverage, the teeth were still viable, stable, and without mobility. Computed tomographic (CT) scans of the 15 patients demonstrated good graft survival with adequate volume. The functional and aesthetic status of the dentition in the area of the cleft also was demonstrated.     

Surgical treatment of unilateral alveolar cleft

In this study, 16 cases of unilateral alveolar cleft with cleft lip and palate were repaired with autografts of cancellous bone (13 cases) or hydroxyapatite (3 cases). The grafts were covered by reflected mucoperiosteal flaps and a mucosal flap from the upper lip. Twelve of the thirteen cases were followed up for 1-5 years. Nine of whom using cancellous bone had bony continuity of the maxilla and 7 cases erupted permanent maxillary canines within the area of autografts. None of the 3 cases using hydroxyapatite erupted a canine tooth. The results showed that autograft was better than hydroxyapatite in terms of maxillary canine eruption.     

Current knowledge in cleft lip and palate treatment from an orthodontist's point of view

The aim of this review was to put new clinical research findings into proper perspectives relative to previously accepted knowledge on treatment of patients with cleft lip and palate. The first part of the paper deals with various aspects of infant orthopedic treatment, such as its influence on primary surgery, maxillary arch form and dimensions, feeding, psychological situation of the parents and speech development. Following parts analyze general maxillofacial growth outcome after surgery and also maxillofacial growth in relation to particular surgical procedures (palatal repair, periosteoplasty/gingivoplasty, bone grafting). The last part of the review discuss the effects of certain orthodontic/orthopedic treatment approaches as well as the role of dental implants in treatment of cleft lip and palate patients.     

Clinical assessment of olfactory dysfunction in Parkinson''s disease

The possibility of placing endosseous implants in the edentulous maxilla is frequently reduced by inadequate bone volume of the residual ridge. In totally edentulous maxillae with knife-edge conformation, insufficient thickness is frequently associated with insufficient height of the residual ridge in the posterior maxilla because of pneumatization of the maxillary sinuses. This surgical method combines grafting of the maxillary sinuses, onlay grafts on the buccal side of maxillary posterior segments, and sagittal osteotomy of the anterior maxilla with interpositional bone grafts. Five to six months after maxillary reconstruction, Br?nemark implants were placed and, after osseointegration occurred, implant-supported dental prostheses were fabricated. Three patients have been treated with this method and 22 implants have been placed. The mean follow-up after final prosthetic rehabilitation has been 16 months; survival rate has been 100%. Despite the small number of patients and the short follow-up, preliminary results have shown very promising results.     

Reconstruction of an atrophic edentulous maxilla with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) using sub-antral augmentation and osseointegrated implants: case report and 3-year follow-up

With the current sophisticated, multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of cleft palate, it is anticipated that most patients with this deformity will enjoy good dental health and function. However, due to the number of older adults who were not treated with primary bone grafting and orthodontic therapy, there remains a significant number of potential candidates who may benefit from dental implants and implant-supported prostheses. Although it was not necessary in this case, a pharyngeal extension may be added to the maxillary denture to further improve speech and deglutition. This case report presents a three-year follow-up of a complex reconstruction of a highly compromised, edentulous patient. Stable fixation of the maxillary prosthesis results in a complete return to function in an individual for whom traditional dental prosthetics had resulted in ten years of failure and frustration. Combining the disciplines of reconstructive surgery and implant prosthetics enables the clinician to achieve a predictable result (Figures 12 and 13). While this case represents an extreme example, there are millions of patients for whom implant dentistry can provide life-changing benefits.     

Review: the Michigan cleft twin study

The combined effects of clefting of the lip and/or palate and of their surgical repair have been examined for a cross-sectional sample of 20 MZ and 25 DZ like-sexed twins discordant for clefting, in the age range of 4 to 17 years. The findings of four studies published since 1975 on that sample are explored for the primary, contiguous and pleiotropic effects of clefting. The primary effects on facial structures of repaired cleft lip appear to be minimal. However, for twins with repaired cleft of the palate (with or without cleft of the lip), the maxilla was both deficient antero-posteriorly and was positioned more posteriorly than in their non-cleft co-twins. The maxillary first molars were usually slightly less erupted in the cleft twins than in the non-cleft twins. The cleft palate only twins had larger cranial base angles than their non-cleft co-twins. A contiguous effect of the posteriorly positioned maxilla was a mandibular rotation downward and backward in the cleft palate and bilateral cleft lip and palate groups but not in the unilateral cleft lip and palate group. The slightly larger cranial base angles found for cleft palate only, although contiguous in location, are more likely pleiotropic effect. The pleiotropic effects include a deficit in height and weight for cleft subjects which appears only after puberty. Although the teeth of the cleft twins tended to be smaller than those of the non-cleft twins, the amount was not clinically significant.     

Use of X-ray diffraction for studying the temperature dependence of the Young modulus of protein crystals

Conventionally, for dental reconstruction after bone grafting of the congenital residual alveolar cleft, a fixed prosthesis or removable partial denture is used. In this paper, residual alveolar cleft reconstruction with an osseointegrated implant following secondary bone grafting is described. The patient underwent secondary bone grafting of the residual alveolar cleft at the age of 18 years. One osseointegrated implant was placed in the bone bridge 8 months after bone grafting. No problems up to 1 year after the fabrication and placement of the fixed prosthesis have been observed.     

Mandibular onlay grafting using prefabricated bone grafts with primary implant placement: an experimental study in minipigs

The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the use of prefabricated autogenous bone grafts as onlay grafts to the mandible. Excess bone of 10 x 12 x 40 mm was produced inside blocks of pyrolyzed bovine bone under a polylactic membrane coverage on the outside of the mandible in 15 adult G?ttingen minipigs. After 5 months, this bone was harvested and transferred to the premolar region of the mandibular body in 10 animals. Onlay grafts of mandibular bone were used as controls for the transplanted prefabricated grafts. All grafts were fixed by primary placement of one titanium implant each. Five animals served as ungrafted controls. Evaluation was performed after 3 months and 5 months, respectively. Two animals were lost to evaluation, and one scaffold became infected. Eleven of the remaining 12 scaffolds showed sufficient bone ingrowth for grafting. Three months after transplantation, bone volume of the prefabricated grafts was almost completely preserved, with only minimal resorption in the superficial pores of the scaffolds, while the control grafts exhibited partial resorption. The titanium implants, which had been placed at the time of only grafting, exhibited direct bone-implant contact. Five months after grafting, all titanium implants showed complete osseointegration, with direct bone-implant contact. The grafted bone exhibited a significant increase in bone density by appositional bone formation. The control grafts were nearly completely resorbed at that time.     

Alveolar bone grafting in unilateral complete cleft lip and palate patients

Autogenous bone graft of an alveolar cleft area has the following advantages: (1) assistance in the closure of buccoalveolar oronasal fistula; (2) provision of bony support for unerupted teeth and teeth adjacent to the cleft; (3) formation of a continuous alveolar ridge to facilitate orthodontic correction of malocclusion; (4) supporting the nostril floor and alar base to improve nasal aesthetics. It has been well accepted in most craniofacial centers as routine procedure in cleft lip and palate rehabilitation. A new surgical technique for alveolar bone grafting has been introduced to the Chang Gung Craniofacial Center since July 1991. It provided a good exposure of the alveolar cleft, primary closure of the fistula and adequate volume of bone graft. A review of 27 consecutive alveolar bone grafting procedures performed in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients from July 1991 to June 1992 was presented. Patients have been followed up for at least 6 months. The alveolar bone graft was evaluated clinically and radiologically at one week, six months and one year after the surgery. The preliminary results indicated that the new surgical technique produced less chance of recurrent fistula, good postoperative gingival height, and improvement of nasal aesthetics. Based on the results of this new study we strongly advocate the use of this new surgical technique.     

Improved treatment of cleft lip and palate is now available

When cleft lip and palate treatment was introduced at Gothenburg in 1957, the procedure used was early bone grafting (EBG). By 1965, EBG had been omitted from the regimen, bone grafting being postponed until the appearance of mixed dentition. Analysis of the results of both techniques showed maxillary retrusion of different degrees. Accordingly, this routine was abandoned in 1975, being replaced by a procedure which is characterised by delayed closure of the hard palate (DCHP). Thus, the surgical procedure comprised the following steps: 1, lip closure at 1-2 months of age; 2, soft palate repair at 6-8 months; 3, final lip-nose surgery at 12 months; and 4, closure of the left in the hard palate, and bone grafting to the alveolar process during mixed dentition at about 8-10 years of age. Follow-up has shown the majority of patients to manifest acceptable speech development during childhood, though problems may occur in some cases. Maxillary growth has been found to be improved after DCHP, and at present the need of maxillary advancement surgery has been reduced to approximately 5% of cases, as compared with the former rates of 50% of cases among those treated with EBG, and of 25% among those treated with the vomer flap procedure.     

Long-term evaluation of the use of coralline hydroxyapatite in orthognathic surgery

PURPOSE: This prospective study was designed to evaluate the long-term clinical and radiographic results of porous block hydroxyapatite (PBHA) used as a synthetic bone graft in orthognathic surgery and craniofacial augmentation. PATIENTS AND MATERIALS: A total of 245 consecutive patients were treated initially. Inclusion criteria for this study included a minimum clinical and radiographic follow-up of 5 years. In addition, all patients with known implant failures were included regardless of whether they met the study criteria. There were 111 patients that met the criteria for inclusion in this study. All patients had undergone orthognathic surgery with rigid fixation and had had inlay or onlay PBHA implants placed. Ninety-six percent of the implants were placed through an intraoral approach. Long-term postoperative radiographs were visually compared with immediate postoperative radiographs for implant position, stability, resorption, and other significant radiographic changes. The clinical examination evaluated for signs and symptoms of infection, wound dehiscence, implant exposure, implant displacement, changes in the overlying mucosa, and development of oronasal or oroantral fistulae. RESULTS: Four hundred seventy-one implants were placed: 403 in the maxilla, 44 in the mandible, and 24 in the periorbital region. There were 289 implants placed in direct communication with the maxillary sinus. The average follow-up time was 7.2 years (range, 5.0 to 10.3 years). Twenty-three implants (4.9%) were removed during the evaluation period. Lateral maxillary wall grafting had 95.7% success, with nine implants being lost in three patients. One chin implant was removed because of dissatisfaction with the aesthetics. Seven (14%) midpalatal implants used for maxillary expansion were lost, primarily because of exposure of the implant to the oral or nasal cavity at the time of surgery. When PBHA was used for alveolar cleft grafting, there was a 100% failure rate. CONCLUSION: The use of PBHA as a bone graft substitute in orthognathic surgery and for facial augmentation showed a high percentage of success and efficacy. However, adequate soft tissue coverage in the nasal floor and on the palate are paramount for success of midpalatal implants. PBHA should not be used for alveolar cleft grafting. Rigid fixation for inlay implants in the maxilla is important to provide stress shielding of the material and minimize micromovement during the initial healing phase.     

Adrenal hemangioma: review of the literature

Initially thought to act as tissue replacement, cultured epithelial allografts are now known to work by providing a potent stimulus for healing. In a similar fashion, we believe that traditional autografts may also provide a stimulus to help heal chronic wounds, thus acting as pharmacological agents for healing. We attempted to assess the possibility of augmenting the stimulatory properties of donor skin by initiating the healing process in the donor region prior to grafting. This was accomplished by pre-wounding the donor area 3 days prior to harvesting the donor skin. We compared these 'pre-wounded' grafts to those harvested immediately. Two patients underwent punch grafting for chronic leg ulceration. Half of the ulcer was grafted with donor skin harvested from an area that was pre-wounded and the other half from freshly harvested skin. We evaluated each for improvement of granulation tissue and degree of edge effect (migration of the previously dormant wound edges). All the grafts did well. There was marked improvement in granulation tissue in the ulcer bed after grafting, and the obvious presence of an edge effect. The edge effect was increased on the site where the pre-wounded grafts were placed. It may be possible to augment the growth stimulatory properties of donor skin. This may offer therapeutic options in patients with chronic wounds.     

Prospective evaluation of morbidity associated with iliac crest harvest for alveolar cleft grafting

PURPOSE: This study prospectively evaluated the morbidity associated with iliac crest bone harvest when performed for alveolar cleft grafting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two consecutive patients who underwent an alveolar cleft graft with iliac crest bone harvest were evaluated. The estimated blood loss, length of hip incision, and volume of bone that was harvested were recorded. The duration of time until postoperative ambulation and the length of hospitalization were measured. RESULTS: All patients tolerated the iliac harvest without major complication, and the volume of bone was sufficient in all but one case. Postoperatively, ambulation occurred at an average of 3 hours 18 minutes. Twenty-one patients were discharged the day after surgery; one patient had the surgery performed as an outpatient. CONCLUSIONS: Harvesting cancellous bone from the iliac crest does not result in delayed ambulation or prolonged hospitalization. The morbidity that has been reported to occur with iliac crest bone harvest was not consistent with the results of this study.     

Bone grafting the piriform aperture deformity in isolated cleft lip patients: indication, technique, and results

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine the effect of a bone graft in the piriform aperture on the nasal deformity and orthodontic treatment of the cleft side teeth in isolated cleft lip patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All primary cleft lip repair was done 3 months after birth. Nine patients, four female and five male, with a mean age of 12.5 years (range, 8.2 to 24.8 years) and with a repaired cleft lip, were bone grafted between 1992 and 1996. The mean postoperative period was 2 years (range, 1 to 4 years). An iliac crest bone graft was placed in the piriform aperture deformity on the side of the cleft lip. The improvement in the nasal symmetry and angulation of the cleft side teeth were evaluated. The eight growing cleft lip patients (mean age, 11 years; range, 9 to 13 years) were compared with a control group of eight healthy growing children (mean age, 11 years; range, 9 to 13 years). The improvement of nasal symmetry was measured by the formula of the lobule portion of the columella index preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean lobule portion of the columella index preoperatively was 41.8% (SD, 4.4%; SE of Mean, 1.5%) and postoperatively was 44.2% (SD, 4.9%; SE of Mean, 1.6%) (P > .006, t-test for paired samples). The angulation of the cleft side teeth was improved by orthodontic treatment. CONCLUSION: Bone grafting the piriform aperture deformity results in a stable result and improves nasal symmetry and the angulation of the cleft side teeth.     

Histologic changes in the sinus membrane after maxillary sinus augmentation in goats

PURPOSE: Previous studies have reported on the morphologic aspects of bone regeneration after maxillary sinus grafting. However, no previous studies have examinated the morphology of the maxillary sinus mucosa after grafting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histologic changes in the lining membrane after sinus augmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A unilateral osteotomy of the lateral maxillary wall, medial displacement of the bony segments, and elevation of the sinus mucosa were performed in 12 goats. An autogenous bone graft combined with coralline particles was placed on the floor of the sinus in three animals, and coralline particles alone were placed in three other goats. Six goats were not grafted and were used as controls. Samples were harvested at 2.5, 4.5, and 6.5 months. The maxillary sinus mucosa was examined using light microscopy and scanning and transmission electronic microscopy. RESULTS: The coralline particles were surrounded by fibrous connective tissue when used alone. The addition of iliac crest bone to the coralline particles stimulated bone formation. After the sinus augmentation, the mucosal lining showed a lack of glands in the lamina propria, and the epithelium showed an increase in goblet cells. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the sinus mucosa undergoes physiologic adaptations and remains healthy and free of chronic sinusitis after maxillary sinus grafting.     

Skeletal stability and relapse patterns after Le Fort I osteotomy using miniplate fixation in patients with isolated cleft palate

We present a series of 14 consecutive isolated cleft palate patients aged 17 to 25 years (mean 19 years) who underwent Le Fort I maxillary advancement fixed with miniplates by the senior author (Posnick) over the period 1987-1991. Ten of the patients underwent autogenous bone grafting; all were stabilized intraoperatively with four miniplates, a prefabricated acrylic splint, and intermaxillary fixation. The patients were analyzed to determine amount and timing of horizontal and anterior and posterior vertical relapse, correlation between advancement and relapse, effect of a pharyngoplasty in place at time of osteotomy, effect of performing multiple jaw procedures, and maintenance of overjet and overbite. Tracings of preoperative and serial postoperative lateral cephalograms (immediate, 6 to 8 weeks, and 1 year) were analyzed to calculate horizontal and vertical maxillary changes and the amount of overjet and overbite maintained. Clinical follow-up ranged from 1.5 to 5.5 years (mean 2.5 years). No significant difference was seen in vertical or horizontal change or relapse between patients who had maxillary surgery alone (n = 10) and those who had operations in both jaws (n = 4), nor did outcome vary significantly for those who had a pharyngoplasty in place (n = 8) at the time of their Le Fort I osteotomy. The mean "effective" maxillary advancement for the group was 6.4 mm, with 5.4 mm maintained 1 year later (mean relapse 1.0 mm).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Abnormalities of the maxillary incisors in children with cleft lip and palate

Dental anomalies of the maxillary anterior teeth were studied in seventy-seven children affected by unilateral and bilateral clefts of the lip and alveolar process, with or without involvement of the palate. As for the permanent lateral incisor in the cleft area, our results show that its congenital absence is the most frequent abnormality followed by anomalies in size and shape and supernumerary teeth. Enamel hypoplasia was found to affect the permanent central incisor on the cleft side more frequently. Early recognition of tooth abnormalities during the primary dentition phase for an interceptive treatment of potentially severe problems was emphasized.