Anterior Maxillary Segmental Distraction Osteogenesis for Treatment of Maxillary Hypoplasia in Patients With Repaired Cleft Palate.

OBJECTIVE: This study is to present experiences of using anterior maxillary segmental distraction osteogenesis (AMSDO) with internal distractors for treatment of maxillary hypoplasia in patients with repaired cleft palate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 42 patients of maxillary hypoplasia with repaired cleft palate were included in this study, and underwent AMSDO. Cephalometric analysis and speech quality assessments were performed to evaluate the changes after AMSDO and its long-term effect on stability.

RESULTS: All cases had successfully accomplished AMSDO. The average SNA (°), NA-FH (°), ANS-PNS (millimeter), and Overjet (millimeter) have change to 80.41°, 89.51°, 55.64 mm, and 2.52 mm, respectively (P < 0.01). Maxillary advancement has reached 13.80 mm on average (ranging from 10.0 mm to 20.0 mm). Speech quality assessment demonstrated that nasal resonance, speech articulation, nasal emission, intelligibility, and velopharyngeal function did not get worse after AMSDO.

CONCLUSIONS: AMSDO has unique advantages as follows: can effectively correct maxillary hypoplasia in patients with repaired cleft palate; can create a space for postoperative orthodontic treatment to solve the crowding teeth situation; the postoperative velopharyngeal function and speech quality show no significant change. The results shown AMSDO is an effective and appropriate treanment for curing maxillary hypoplasia in patients with repaired cleft palate.