Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Method of Studying Palatal Fusion using Static Organ Culture
Published on: September 19, 2015
Long-term follow-up after maxillary distraction osteogenesis in growing children with cleft lip and palate
Chiung-Shing Huang1, Pandurangan Harikrishnan, Yu-Fang Liao
1Craniofacial Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. sshuang@ms1.hinet.net
Objective:
To evaluate the changes in maxillary position after maxillary distraction osteogenesis in six growing children with cleft lip and palate.
Design:
Retrospective, longitudinal study on maxillary changes at A point, anterior nasal spine, posterior nasal spine, central incisor, and first molar.
Setting:
The University Hospital Craniofacial Center.
Main Outcome Measure:
Cephalometric radiographs were used to measure the maxillary position immediately after distraction, at 6 months, and more than 1 year after distraction.
Results:
After maxillary distraction with a rigid external distraction device, the maxilla (A point) on average moved forward 9.7 mm and downward 3.5 mm immediately after distraction, moved backward 0.9 mm and upward 2.0 mm after 6 months postoperatively, and then moved further backward 2.3 mm and downward 6.8 mm after more than 1 year from the predistraction position.
Conclusion:
In most cases, maxilla moved forward at distraction and started to move backward until 1 year after distraction, but remained forward, as compared with predistraction position. Maxilla also moved downward during distraction and upward in 6 months, but started descending in 1 year. There also was no further forward growth of the maxilla after distraction in growing children with clefts.
