Examination of craniofacial morphology in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate

Craniofacial morphology of children with and without clefts has been reported to differ because of a combination of factors including, morphogenetic pattern, adaptive changes, and lip and palate management. The purpose of this study was to make a cephalometric evaluation of possible differences in craniofacial morphology of Turkish children with and without unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). Twenty UCLP children (7 girls, 13 boys) with a mean age of 10.75 years (SD = 2.58 years) were compared with a control group of children without UCLP, who were matched for age (mean = 10.64 years, SD = 2.58 years) and sex. No patient had received orthodontic treatment. Linear and angular variables were measured from tracings of lateral cephalometric radiographs and the resulting data were evaluated statistically. Compared with children in the control group, the children in the cleft palate group demonstrated a greater flattening of the cranial base, a more retrognathic and posteriorly inclined maxilla with decreased length, a larger mandibular plane and gonial angle, larger anterior facial height, and decreased posterior and upper-posterior facial heights.