Effect of post-surgical jaw-orthopaedic treatment in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients

Reduction of the contraction of maxillary segments in newborn infants with unilateral cleft lip and palate by means of post-operative maxillary orthopaedic treatment was evaluated in 32 consecutive patients. Early surgery was performed in three stages and jaw-orthopaedic treatment with an acrylic plate was started one week after the first and again after the second operation. Between the first and second operation, between the second and third operation and during the period from the first operation to the age of three years there were no significant differences in changes of maxillary width dimensions between half of the children using the plates most frequently and the other half, with one exception. This difference was probably due to differences in initial values between the two groups of children. Thus, the influence on maxillary dimensions and dental occlusion of jaw-orthopaedic treatment, carried out according to our routines, was very limited. On the other hand, other treatment objectives might have been facilitated.