Treatment principles for the changing arch form in children with complete unilateral cleft lips and palates

Data on maxillary growth for 62 normal and 87 complete unilateral cleft lip and palate subjects presented in 1975 is supplemented and extended. The children ranged in age from six months to four years and were evaluated at four developmental stages. In order to clarify the character of the maxillary arch deformity, measurements of depth, width, height, and length were made and analyzed statistically. Prior to lip repair, cleft and normal subjects showed similar patterns of maxillary growth. This similarity was not apparent by age two. Anterior-posterior growth inhibition of the maxilla appeared to occur after lip repair and to remain a problem by age four. The authors discuss possible ways of minimizing these differences by management techniques.