Comparison of Anatomical Features of Alveolar Cleft in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Patients of Different Ages.

OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to compare the anatomical features of alveolar cleft in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) of different ages. METHODS:Sixty UCLP patients were divided into 3 groups as follows: group 1 (7-12 years old), group 2 (13-18 years old) and group 3 (more than 18 years old). The radiographic images were analyzed based on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. RESULTS:The mean age in 3 groups was 10.45 ± 1.15, 15.05 ± 1.90, and 22.55 ± 3.00 years (P < 0.0001). The lip-palatal width in Group 2 and 3 was 15.14 ± 3.67 mm and 15.50 ± 3.92 mm, which was significantly larger than 12.97 ± 1.82 mm in Group 1 (P = 0.037). The volume of alveolar defect was 1.09 ± 0.23 cm, 1.28 ± 0.38 cm and 1.40 ± 0.58 cm in 3 groups, and the difference between any 2 of them was significant (P = 0.0004). The prevalence of ipsilateral but contralateral maxillary sinusitis was significant among 3 groups (P = 0.0015) while the other nasal deformities including nasal septum deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy was not found significant. CONCLUSIONS:Alveolar cleft volume increased with age, which is properly due to enlarged width of lip-palatal defect. The significant higher frequencies of ipsilateral maxillary sinusitis in patients under 18 could increase the risk of bone infection.