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Comparison between palatal configurations in UCLP infants with and without a Hotz plate until four years of age

K Mishima1, Y Mori, T Sugahara

  • 1First Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Okayama University, Japan.

The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal : Official Publication of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
|April 5, 2000
PubMed

Insights

The Hotz plate significantly widened palates in infants with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) by age four. This presurgical orthopedic treatment also reduced palatal curvature without affecting arch form or length.

Area of Science:

  • Craniofacial Surgery
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Orthodontics

Background:

  • Presurgical infant orthopedic (PSIO) devices aim to improve outcomes for infants with cleft lip and palate.
  • The Hotz plate is a type of PSIO used to manage palatal development in infants with clefts.
  • Long-term three-dimensional (3D) evaluation of palatal morphology following Hotz plate use is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the three-dimensional palatal configuration in infants with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) treated with a Hotz plate versus those without.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of the Hotz plate up to four years of age using a novel 3D measuring system.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 20 infants with complete UCLP was divided into two groups: 12 treated with a Hotz plate and 8 controls.
  • Three-dimensional measurements of palatal casts were taken from birth to four years of age.
  • Comparison of palatal width, anteroposterior distance, alveolar arch form, and palatal curvature between groups.

Main Results:

  • The Hotz plate group exhibited significantly greater palatal width at four years of age compared to the control group.
  • No significant differences were found in anteroposterior palatal distance or alveolar arch form between the groups.
  • The degree of palatal curvature was reduced in the Hotz plate group.

Conclusions:

  • Presurgical orthopedic treatment with a Hotz plate positively influences palatal width and reduces curvature in UCLP patients by age four.
  • The observed effects are consistent with earlier findings at 18 months of age, suggesting sustained benefits.
  • The Hotz plate appears to be an effective intervention for improving specific aspects of palatal development in UCLP.
Abstract

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