Three-dimensional analysis of cleft palate topology in newborn infants with reference to the cranial skeleton

To describe a method of determining the three-dimensional topology of the palatal crest relative to a reproducible anthropomorphic coordinate system in newborn infants with unilateral cleft palate. For this purpose, physical models of the maxilla and face were analyzed by computer morphometry.

The study was limited to infants referred to the craniofacial center during the first 11 days after birth.

The study was performed at a craniofacial center servicing a large geographic area.

The method was applied to 12 infants with unilateral cleft lip, alveolus, and palate (eight patients with left-side clefts and four with right-side clefts).

The three-dimensional topology of the palatal crest referenced to an anthropometric coordinate system was the primary outcome measure. The anthropometric reference system is defined by the tragus points and the midpoint of a line connecting the endocanthia.

The topology of the maxillary crests of the patients was characterized by considerable variability. The center of the premaxilla as defined by the attachment of the frenulum was frequently displaced by several millimeters from the midsagittal plane. The displacement was to the left in infants with right-side clefts and to the right in infants with left-side clefts. The premaxilla can be rotated by more than 30 degrees relative to the normal position. No significant retroposition of the minor segment as determined by the location of the tuber points was found. Several morphometric anomalies were found to be correlated linearly.

We propose that the morphologic deviations are in part caused by the neuromotor activity of the tongue and of the interrupted M. orbicularis oris. The data can serve as the starting point for a longitudinal study of craniofacial development in children with cleft palate and for studies on the efficacy of different therapeutic approaches.