[Suture expansion osteogenesis for closing the posterior hard palate: an experimental study in dogs]

This study investigated the possibility of a new approach, e.g. suture expansion osteogenesis for closing the posterior hard palate. By this technique we might hope to replace missing tissue in the clefts by tissue regeneration and achieve bony repair in the posterior hard palate and circumvent the problems of speech and facial growth seen in traditional cleft surgery.

Nine 8-month mongrel dogs were divided into three groups: the control(n = 1), sham control(n = 2) and the experimental group(n = 6). In six experimental dogs, an 8 mm wide cleft was made surgically. Suture expansion devices made of NiTi-shape memory alloy with force levels of 200 g, 360 g and 480 g were secured in the palatine bones to expand the lateral sutures of the palatine bones. Clinical and histological examinations were performed to observe the changes.

The clefts in the experimental group were closed completely sooner or later within a period from 5 to 14 days. While the clefts in the sham group became a little larger than their original size. There was significant new bone formation at the edge of the expanded suture.

The clefts in young dogs could be closed by the technique of suture expansion. The NiTi-SMA expander used in the study was consistently effective and all the force levels could induce a great amount of new bone formation with the trabeculae being thinner and longer by heavy forces.