Effects of primary bone grafting on facial development in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate

The study is based on an anthropometric assessment of X-ray films obtained in 22 adult males with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate treated during childhood with primary bone grafts and in 32 males with the same type of cleft without bone grafting. In the series with bone grafts was recorded a more marked reduction of maxillary depth associated with a larger retrusion than in the series without bone grafts. This deviation was therapeutically compensated by a larger displacement of the mandible backwards which contributes to the increase of mandibular posterior rotation. This provided the possibility to attain an edge to edge bite. Our results confirmed the unfavourable effects of primary bone grafting on maxillary growth and development.