Secondary Alveolar Bone Graft Surgery status Among Children With Cleft Alveolus From the Norwegian Registry of Cleft Lip and Palate

Objective Secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) is a key surgical intervention for children with cleft alveolus. We aim to estimate the cumulative probability of bone regrafting after SABG and assess associated clinical predictive factors. Design Registry-based study. Setting National registry-based study using the Norwegian Registry of Cleft Lip and Palate (NRCLP), covering cleft care in Norway, 2011 to 2024. Patients/Participants Children with cleft alveolus recorded in the NRCLP (n = 590). Interventions Secondary alveolar bone grafting and any subsequent regrafting within the cleft care. Main outcome measure(s) Bone regrafting cumulative probability after SABG, based on 2-dimensional radiographic Bergland classification system, and its associations with sex, center of treatment, palate involvement, cleft side, and cleft type. Results Of 590 children, 398 (67%) were boys. Unilateral cleft alveolus (with/without cleft palate) was identified among 479 (81%) children. A total of 178 (30%) had cleft lip and alveolus only, and 412 (70%) had cleft lip and alveolus with cleft palate. Secondary alveolar bone grafting was performed in 219 clefts among 191 children. The mean age at first SABG was 9.8 ± 1.1 years. Fourteen children (7%) underwent regrafting. The cumulative probability of regrafting was 10% (95% confidence interval, 6%-16%) up to 6 years of follow-up. Regrafting was not significantly associated with sex, palate involvement, cleft side, or cleft type ( P > .05). It was associated with the center of treatment ( P = .015). Conclusions Regrafting cumulative probability after SABG was low. No significant associations were identified with the cleft characteristics examined. Variation between centers warrants further investigation.