Maxillary growth after palatal surgery. An experimental study on dogs

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Craniofacial Development
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Surgical defects in the hard palate can lead to maxillary growth impairment.
• Scar tissue formation following surgery can negatively impact bone development.
• Autogenous full-thickness skin grafts offer a potential method to mitigate these effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of unilateral hard palate defect closure on maxillary growth in Beagle puppies.
• To compare the effects of autogenous full-thickness skin grafting versus secondary epithelialization on maxillary bone development.
• To evaluate the influence of surgical closure techniques on palatine suture displacement and nasal height.

Main Methods:

• Surgically created unilateral defects in the hard palate of 6- to 8-week-old Beagle puppies.
• One side was covered with an autogenous full-thickness skin graft (side SGS); the other side healed by secondary intention (side RS).
• Maxillary growth was assessed by measurements on dried skulls at 47 to 52 weeks of age.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in total maxillary length between the two sides.
• The posterior maxilla was longer on the skin graft side (SGS) in most dogs.
• The anterior maxilla was longer on the secondary healing side (RS) in most dogs, with palatine suture displacement towards RS and increased nasal height on side SGS.

Conclusions:

• Reducing scar tissue by using full-thickness skin grafts can mitigate maxillary growth impairment after palatal surgery.
• The findings suggest that surgical technique influences regional maxillary growth and craniofacial morphology.
• Autogenous skin grafting presents a viable strategy for improving outcomes in palatal reconstruction.