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Three-Dimensional Upper Lip and Nostril Sill Changes After Cleft Alveolus Reconstruction Using Autologous Bone
Cassio Eduardo Raposo-Amaral1, Rafael Denadai, Nivaldo Alonso
1*Craniofacial Surgery Unit, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo (USP) †Institute of Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery, SOBRAPAR Hospital, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract:
Cleft alveolus in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate has been alternatively reconstructed with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP)-2. However, its effects on upper lip and nostril sill anatomy are not known. Thus, the objective of this investigation was to assess and compare upper lip and nostril sill changes after cleft alveolus reconstruction with autologous bone from the iliac crest region and rhBMP-2. Patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups. In group 1, autologous bone from the iliac crest region was used to fill the cleft alveolus (n = 4), and in group 2, rhBMP-2 was used to fill the cleft alveolus (n = 8). Preoperatively and at one after the surgery, computerized tomography (CT) was performed. Reformatted CT imaging was used to perform cephalometric linear measurements of the upper lip and nostril sill regions. Inter- and intragroup data of the pre and postoperative reformatted CT measurements of the upper lip and nostril sill regions did not show differences (P >0.05) in cutaneous upper lip height and projection, nostril sill elevation, and subnasale projection. There were no significant upper lip and nostril sill anatomical changes after cleft alveolus reconstruction using autologous bone grafting and rhBMP-2.

