[Long-term results of primary osteoplasty in CLP patients. A cephalometric analysis]

In the present paper the long term results of 27 patients with clefts who had undergone primary osteoplasty at 3-10 months are presented in a cephalometric follow-up. A review of the literature shows that in comparison to cleft populations without primary osteoplasty there have been no differences in terms of maxillary development. Therefore primary osteoplasty cannot alone be made responsible for the disturbance of the growth of the maxilla as has been postulated in the early 70s. According to the Tübingen results consistent orthodontic therapy is necessary to prevent developmental anomalies.