A longitudinal cephalometric study on unilateral cleft lip and palate subjects

The facial growth of nine male and 9 female subjects with surgically repaired unilateral cleft lips and palates was compared to that of 20 male and 15 female non-cleft individuals. Different cephalometric landmarks were identified on the cranial base and maxillary complex, and eleven different parameters were measured. Univariate longitudinal growth profile and mean vector analyses as well as multivariate and cross-sectional comparisons were performed between male, female, and combined normal and cleft groups. Linear data comparisons indicated statistically significant differences in the growth profile and mean vector analyses of several of the parameters describing the relationship (SNA and SNAns) and dimensions (Ans-Ptm and A-Ptm) of the maxillary complex. Incremental data comparisons on the same parameters (SNA, SNAns, Ans-Ptm and A-Ptm) indicated statistically significant differences in the mean vector longitudinal analysis and the univariate cross-sectional analysis. Most of these significant differences were concentrated in the older age comparisons (7 to 8, 8 to 9, and 9 to 10 years). Where significant differences existed, the normal sample increments were usually greater than the cleft sample increments.