Influence of two-flap paltoplasty on facial growth in rabbits

Three groups of rabbits were used in this study. Group I consisted of control rabbits who had had no surgery. Group II had surgically created but unrepaired clefts of the lip, alveolus, and palate. Group III had surgically created clefts of the lip, alveolus, and palate with the palatal clept having been repaired using a two-flap palatoplasty. At the end of the twentieth postoperative week, all animals were sacrificed. Results of the direct cephalometry of the skulls did not confirm the hypothesis that palatal repair inhibits overall facial growth. At the same time, certain asymmetries of the maxilla and mandible were found. These may have resulted from selective inhibition of certain growth processes.