New biomaterials versus traditional techniques: advances in cleft palate reconstruction

Cleft lip and palate still remains one of the most common congenital anomalies, and consequently surgical correction of these anomalies is still commonplace. Despite numerous existing surgical techniques having good outcomes, it is still recognized that the morbidity of certain surgical procedures and success rates regarding outcomes can be improved. The purpose of this review is to evaluate new literature and techniques compared with the time tested procedures that are commonly used.

As technology continues to advance, the understanding of details regarding biochemical pathways responsible for the development of cleft defects and also the efficacy of biomaterials that can be used in their correction are being discovered and better understood. Many studies have been conducted in both animal and human study participants that further the understanding of these questions. The efficacy and benefit of newly devised biomaterials seems to indicate that these biomaterials are a viable adjunct and often an alternative in the treatment of cleft palate patients.

In this review of recent literature, the discussion begins with a review of the more traditional and widely accepted iliac crest bone grafting and then evolves into a discussion of several animal and human studies to delineate the progress being made in this field. The literature exploring the details regarding biochemical pathways and cellular mediators that are involved in cleft formation, as well as biomaterials used in surgical repair are evaluated. The findings in the literature suggest that there is a bright future in better understanding the cause of cleft formation on a molecular level and associated attempts that can be made in altering some of these factors along with discovering new biomaterials that can be a useful adjunct to existing techniques.