Introduction: Impact of Early Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery on Maxillary Growth in 5- and 10-Year-Old Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Objectives: This study evaluated maxillary growth and dental arch relationships in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) at 5 and 10 years of age. Methods: 28 patients with UCLP who underwent cleft lip surgery in neonatal age and cleft palate surgery at average age of 7 months without orthodontic treatment (intervention group) were measured for intercanine and intermolar distances and for dental arch length. These measurements were compared with those of 30 healthy participants in a control group. Dental arch relationships in the intervention group were evaluated by 5-YO index at 5 years and the GOSLON Yardstick score at 10 years of patients’ age. Results: Patients in the intervention group had significantly shorter mean intercanine distance and arch length than control patients at both 5 and 10 years of age (p<.001 for all). There were no significant differences in intermolar distance at both 5 (p=.945) and 10 years (p=.105) of patients’ age. The average 5YO index increased from 2.46 to an average GOSLON 10-year score of 2.89 in intervention group. Conclusion: Intercanine distance and dental arch length of patients with UCLP are significantly reduced at 5 and 10 years after early cleft lip and palate surgeries compared to the healthy population. Dental arch relationships at 5 and 10 years of patients with UCLP show comparable outcomes to those reported by other cleft centers. Clinical significance: This study supports the hypothesis that early cleft lip and palate surgeries do not negatively impact maxillary growth compared to later surgery.