Periosteal flaps and grafts in primary cleft repair: a follow-up study

A long-term follow-up study of maxillary clefts operated on primarily with the maxillary periosteal flap (67 patients) and the free tibial periosteal graft (23 patients) showed a definite bone bridge in 64 versus 85 percent of the patients. Still, secondary bone grafting was indicated in both in over 70 percent. Lateral crossbite was observed in all and anterior crossbite (mostly dental) was seen in over 80 percent of both groups. There were no statistically significant differences in the cephalometric angular measurements between the groups. Inside the maxillary periosteal flap group the maxillary growth was more retarded in unilateral and especially bilateral complete clefts than in alveolar clefts only. The maxillary growth seemed to be on average better than in primarily bone-grafted materials. The primary use of periosteum had been abandoned in our unit already in 1974, because it did not fulfill the expectations of prevention of maxillary collapse, lesser need for secondary bone grafting, and better midfacial growth.