Influence of cleft palate closure by osteotomy technique on growth of the dentomaxillary complex in human beings

Properly done, osteotomy cleft palate closure in human beings reproduces a normal dentomaxillary complex in patients with an incomplete cleft palate and in those with a narrow unilateral complete lip and palate cleft. In wider complete clefts, the dentomaxillary complex is influenced by the constrictive action of the lip muscle during closure rather than by the osteotomy procedure. Plaster casts of osteotomy surgical cases late postoperatively demonstrate the normal growth pattern achieved. Variations in cleft palate osteotomy have been worked out for every type of cleft palate.