[Physical and static-motor development of patients with clefts at ages from 0 to 10 years]

In the framework of a cross-sectional and longitudinal study, 703 anthropometric determinations were performed in 581 cleft patients aged from 0 to 10 years. The values obtained for body length, body weight and body weight and chest expansion were compared with the standard values established by Marcusson and Sälzler. The values for the circumference of the head were compared with the standard values of Nellhaus. The results show that from 87.4 to 97.2% of all these measurements of the body lie within the interval of x +/- 2 s. The growth in length is but slightly affected by the cleft. The values for body weight and chest expansion range with the lower standard values, especially in females and in patients with bilateral cheilognathopalatoschisis. There is a general trend towards circumferences of the head that are greater than the mean standard value. Developmental retardation is more often seen in females, but it is of shorter duration than in male cleft patients. Cleft patients who did not make up for retardation were afflicted with additional deformities or malformations or with mental defects.