In-Depth Volumetric Analysis of Alveolar Cleft Defects Using Three-Dimensionally Printed Models

Presurgical evaluation of the alveolar cleft defect is an essential and crucial step for procedural success. In this study, three-dimensionally printed models derived from computed tomography scans were used to measure the alveolar defect volume before bone grafting. The authors also explored the influence of cleft type, age, and gender on alveolar bone defect volume. Ninety-four patients with unilateral alveolar cleft were enrolled in this study. One-way analysis of variance and multivariate analysis were used to investigate the influence of age (8-14 years), gender, and cleft type on the outcome of alveolar bone defect volume. The mean volume of the alveolar cleft defect in all patients was 1.40 ± 0.37 ml, and the average age of the patients was 10.33 ± 1.75 years. One-way analysis of variance showed that alveolar defect volume was not influenced by age (P = 0.24 > 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that gender (P = 0.001 < 0.05) and cleft type (P = 0.028 < 0.05) had a statistically significant influence on alveolar defect volume. This study validates our clinical experience and further proves the importance of individualized presurgical volumetric assessment in achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes.