Segmental Maxillary Osteotomy to Close Wide Alveolar Clefts

Area of Science:

• Craniofacial surgery
• Orthodontics
• Pediatric dentistry

Background:

• Wide alveolar clefts present significant treatment challenges, often leading to graft failure and prolonged orthodontic interventions.
• Large clefts result in wide edentulous spaces, complicating dental rehabilitation and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of segmental maxillary osteotomy in treating wide alveolar clefts.
• To assess the outcomes of this technique in terms of cleft closure, bone filling, and impact on orthodontic treatment.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 6 patients (10 clefts) treated with segmental maxillary osteotomy between 2014 and 2016.
• Analysis of preoperative and postoperative computed tomography scans to measure cleft width and bone fill.
• Review of patient demographics, diagnoses, and surgical procedures.

Main Results:

• Segmental maxillary osteotomy successfully closed all treated wide alveolar clefts (average width 14.2 mm).
• No adverse effects were reported postoperatively.
• The procedure facilitated dental substitution or prosthodontic planning while minimizing orthodontic duration.

Conclusions:

• Segmental maxillary osteotomy, combined with bone grafting and fistula closure, is an effective treatment for wide alveolar clefts.
• This approach achieves traditional goals of alveolar bone grafting and improves functional and aesthetic outcomes.