Cp. Laspos et al., MANDIBULAR AND MAXILLARY ASYMMETRY IN INDIVIDUALS WITH UNILATERAL CLEFT-LIP AND PALATE, The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal, 34(3), 1997, pp. 232-239
Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the degree of maxillar
y and mandibular asymmetry in the verticle and transverse planes seen
in posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs relative to chronologic a
ge in postoperative complete UCLP patients compared to controls. Metho
d: Mandibular and nasomaxillary asymmetry was retrospectively studied
in complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and noncleft indivi
duals (controls) by means of posteroanterior cephalometric analysis, A
II the UCLP patients available (total 40) and randomly selected noncle
ft controls (total 142) were included in the study. The UCLP patients
had undergone lip and palate reconstruction in Strong Memorial Hospita
l, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, and orthodontic treat
ment in the Department of Orthodontics, Eastman Dental Center, Rochest
er, New York. The controls were selected based on the age that treatme
nt was initiated and were treated in the department for various malocc
lusions; none had undergone maxillary expansion or surgical treatment,
The asymmetry assessed on mixed longitudinal records of the patients
with UCLP was analyzed relative to three chronologic age groups and co
mpared to the controls, In addition, mandibular asymmetry was correlat
ed to maxillary asymmetry in UCLP individuals to investigate possible
growth patterns between the two jaws.Results: Mandibular asymmetry in
UCLP individuals was found to increase with growth and time and peaked
at post-pubertal growth-spurt stages, The cleft subjects were more as
ymmetric than controls in all stages of growth, Mandibular asymmetry f
ollowed the affected maxilla closely, indicating a parallel growth pat
tern of the jaws. Conclusion: The unilateral cleft lip and palate pati
ents manifested asymmetry of the mandible. This asymmetry develops in
a parallel pattern with the affected maxilla, suggesting that early ev
aluation and treatment of the anomalies in the nasomaxillary skeleton
as well as in the mandible is necessary when treating unilateral cleft
lip and palate individuals.