[Modern approach to early orthopedic treatment in cleft lip and palate children]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Craniofacial Anomalies
• Pediatric Dentistry

Background:

• Cleft lip and palate (CLP) presents significant challenges in early childhood, particularly concerning alveolar bone deformities.
• Current orthopedic treatments for CLP require improvement in precision and predictability for optimal outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the quality of early orthopedic treatment for infants diagnosed with cleft lip and palate (CLP).
• To evaluate a novel method utilizing consecutive splints for correcting alveolar bone deformities in CLP patients.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of thirty-six infants aged 1 to 6 months with CLP was enrolled.
• A new orthopedic treatment protocol involving a series of consecutive splints was implemented.
• Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology was employed for fabricating the custom splints.

Main Results:

• The novel splinting method demonstrated advantages over existing techniques for alveolar bone deformity correction in CLP infants.
• Precise positioning of maxillary fragments was achieved through the CAD/CAM fabricated splints.
• The treatment resulted in improved overall outcomes and increased predictability.

Conclusions:

• The developed technology for CAD/CAM splint fabrication offers a superior approach to early orthopedic management of CLP.
• This method enhances the precision of maxillary fragment positioning, leading to better functional and aesthetic results.
• The consecutive splint system represents a significant advancement in treating alveolar bone deformities in infants with cleft lip and palate.