PALATAL CHANGES AFTER LIP SURGERY IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLEFT-LIP ANDPALATE

This study concerns palatal development during 6 months following prim ary lip closure. The sample consisted of 75 children with different fo rms of cleft lip and palate and 51 noncleft children. The palate was m easured at 3 months of age, just before lip surgery, after surgery at 6 months, and again at 9 months of age. The results showed that lip cl osure has a strong effect in the anterior alveolar region. This effect was restricted to 3 months after surgery. The changes in complete cle fts were more explicit than in incomplete cleft forms. Furthermore, th e data showed that arch depth reduction due to lip surgery was compens ated for by continued anteroposterior palatal growth. Early orthopedic s appeared to prevent major palatal collapse immediately after lip sur gery. Finally simultaneous closure of the alveolar cleft at the nasal side resulted in continued reduction of anterior cleft width.