The effects of Le Fort I osteotomy on velopharyngeal function in cleft patients

Comparison of Maxillary Distraction Osteogenesis and Conventional Orthognathic Osteotomy: A Systematic Review

Maxillary hypoplasia, affecting 0.3% of the US population and nearly 25% of patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP), often results in Class III malocclusion with significant functional and esthetic challenges. Treatment options include LeFort I distraction osteogenesis (DO) and conventional osteotomy (CO), but reported outcomes vary widely. A systematic review of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and CINAHL identified 17 studies (6 randomized controlled trials, 11 retrospective cohort studies) from 5076 screened. Outcomes assessed included skeletal relapse, speech changes, velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), soft tissue adaptations, and complications. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Findings showed no significant differences in skeletal relapse between DO and CO. Speech and VPI outcomes were comparable, with deterioration in 10% to 45% of DO patients and 22.2% to 81.8% of CO patients. DO provide superior soft tissue improvements, particularly in nasal and lip landmarks. Complication rates ranged from 5% to 20% for DO and 21% to 22.2% for CO. Overall, evidence comparing DO and CO remains limited and inconsistent, preventing definitive conclusions on skeletal stability, speech outcomes, VPI risk, and complications. While DO may offer better soft tissue outcomes, it shares high complication rates and patient dissatisfaction. Further research is essential.

An Exploratory Analysis of Early Care Differences and Risk of Post-Maxillary Advancement VPI in Individuals With Cleft Palate

ObjectiveTo investigate whether differences in early cleft care increase risk of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) after maxillary advancement.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingLarge pediatric tertiary care hospital.Patients/ParticipantsAdolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cleft palate (∓cleft lip) who underwent maxillary advancement between 2008 and 2019.Interventions/ComparisonsInitial palate repair at a different institution (early care elsewhere, ECE) versus care at a single institution (consistent care, CC).Main Outcome MeasuresPost-maxillary advancement VPI.ResultsOne-hundred seventy-eight AYAs underwent maxillary advancement, 74 in the ECE group and 104 in the CC group. The ECE group was more likely to be internationally adopted (34% versus 4%), to have a history of VPI surgery (54% versus 32%) and to be older at time of palate repair (mean 25 versus 16 months). Of anatomical measures, only velar length differed, with the ECE group tending to have a shorter velum (mean 26 mm versus 28 mm). Proportional odds regression revealed increased odds of post-operative VPI in the ECE group (OR 1.46, 95% CI 0.75-2.85) relative to the CC group. This relationship was stronger among those with bilateral cleft lip and palate (OR 3.29, 95% CI 0.86-13.52). For patients with history of prior VPI surgery, the odds of post-operative VPI in the ECE group was more than 3 times that in the CC group (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.08-9.16).ConclusionsVPI after maxillary advancement is more likely among individuals who received early cleft care elsewhere compared to those who underwent all cleft operations at a single center.

Effect of maxillary advancement on velopharyngeal function in cleft lip and palate: 20 years of experience

This retrospective study aimed to investigate the impact of orthognathic surgery with maxillary advancement (MA) on the velopharyngeal function (VF) in individuals with cleft lip and palate (CLP). The study included 651 patients with repaired CLP, both sexes, aged over 18 years who underwent MA alone or in combination with nasal procedures and/or mandibular osteotomy, operated between 2000 and 2019. The main outcome measures were nasalance (nasal text-NT and oral text-OT) and velopharyngeal orifice area measurement (VA), determined by nasometry and pressure-flow technique, respectively. Preoperatively, mean nasalance scores for NT and OT indicated normality, and VA demonstrated borderline-inadequate velopharyngeal closure in all patients. Following MA, a significant increase in nasalance scores for NT and OT occurred (p < 0.001), revealing hypernasality in those undergoing MA combined with nasal procedure (MAN, N = 191), bimaxillary orthognathic surgery with nasal procedure (BON, N = 227) and bimaxillary orthognathic surgery (BO, N = 151). Conversely, nasalance scores remained within the normal range for those undergoing isolated maxillary advancement (IMA, N = 82). VA exhibited a significant increase leading to the classification of VF as inadequate in the BON and MAN groups. Overall, MA contributed to VF deterioration, resulting in the appearance of hypernasality and increased VA, particularly when combined with nasal procedures.

Occlusal and Cephalometric Outcomes of Cleft Orthognathic Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

Aberrant facial growth in individuals affected by orofacial clefts can result in maxillary retrusion and class III malocclusion, with a proportion requiring surgical correction at cessation of growth. This study aimed to evaluate occlusal and cephalometric outcomes of combined orthodontic-orthognathic treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective cohort study in a United Kingdom cleft center. Participants included twenty-seven patients (20 males, 7 females) with cleft (n = 16 UCLP :7 BCLP :4 ICP) who consecutively underwent combined surgical treatment for Class III malocclusion between January 2013 and December 2017. Records were collected pre-treatment (T0), pre-surgery (T1) and at debond (T2). Models were scored using the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index and cephalometric radiographs were traced and analyzed. Outcomes were assessed by an independent rater.

RESULTS

Mean age at surgery was 21.4 years (SD 4.9). Le Fort 1 advancement (mean 6.1 mm, SD 4.0) was performed in all cases. Additional procedures included mandibular setback (n = 2), cortico-cancellous bone grafting (n = 6) and genioplasty (n = 1). Mean T0 PAR score was 44.8 (SD 11.7), reducing to 3.6 (SD 2.0) at T2, indicating a mean % PAR score reduction of 91.6% (SD 4.7). Class III skeletal profiles improved from a mean T0 ANB of -2.1º (SD 2.2), to 2.8º (SD 1.6) at T2. Mean T0 overjet was -3.3 mm (SD 2.3), increasing to 2.6 mm (SD 1.3) at T2.

CONCLUSION

Cleft orthognathic surgery differs in complexity and approach to routine orthognathics, however, these results demonstrate that occlusal outcomes can still be comparable with non-cleft populations. Outcome data can be used for comparison with other centers providing cleft orthognathic treatment.

Velopharyngeal Function Change after 2-Jaw Orthognathic Surgery in Patients with Cleft: A Study of 162 Consecutive Cases

BACKGROUND

Orthognathic surgery (OGS) is a common intervention used to correct midfacial hypoplasia in patients with cleft. Previous studies have reported that Le Fort I maxillary advancement may affect velopharyngeal function, but similar investigations focusing on 2-jaw OGS have not been conducted.

METHODS

A total of 162 consecutive patients with cleft lip and palate who underwent 2-jaw OGS between 2015 and 2020 were enrolled. Clinical data were collected, and preoperative and postoperative skeletal measurements were obtained from cephalometric images. Velopharyngeal function was evaluated using perceptual analysis and nasopharyngoscopy. A logistic regression model was used for risk factors associated with changes in velopharyngeal function.

RESULTS

After 2-jaw OGS, 82.1% of patients showed no change in velopharyngeal function, 3.7% experienced improvement, and 14.2% exhibited worsening of function. Changes in velopharyngeal function were statistically significant compared with velopharyngeal status before OGS. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that the amount of maxillary advancement independently predicted the deterioration of velopharyngeal function after OGS (odds ratio, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.20 - 2.52; P = 0.004). The receiver operating characteristic curve based on maxillary advancement demonstrated good discrimination, with an area under the curve of 0.727 (95% CI, 0.62 - 0.83; P = 0.001). The Youden index was 4.27 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the risk of velopharyngeal function deterioration in patients with cleft palate undergoing OGS, some individuals experienced improved function after 2-jaw OGS. The extent of maxillary advancement has a negative effect on velopharyngeal function.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, III.

Reshaping Faces, Redefining Risks: A Systematic Review of Orthognathic Surgery Outcomes in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients

Background: This study aims to determine a generalized outcome and risk profile for patients undergoing orthognathic surgery for the definitive treatment of cleft lip and palate. Furthermore, we hope to determine the key risk factors that cause increased risk for cleft lip and palate patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. Methods: This study includes a systematic review using PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Scopus. Data curation utilized Covidence software, with dual-reviewer screening and conflict resolution by a third party, focusing on publications with the full texts available. Results: The initial search yielded 1697 articles. Following title, abstract, and full-text screening, a total of 62 articles were included in this review. A total of 70.9% of included articles had moderate bias, with the rest having low risk of bias. The sample consisted of 2550 patients with an average age of about 20 years and an average follow-up of 16.8 months. The most employed procedure was Le Fort I osteotomy (99%). In terms of velopharyngeal function, there were notable increases in insufficiency and severity scores, with an average 63% worsening score from the baseline. That being said, patients experienced an average 33% improvement in speech articulation. Furthermore, the average horizontal movement was reported to be 6.09 mm with a subsequent relapse of 0.98 mm overall. Conclusions: This systematic review distills data from 62 articles and 2550 patients. It highlights the efficacy of orthognathic surgery in addressing oropharyngeal and aesthetic deficits. This study identifies relapse and velopharyngeal insufficiency as recurrent complications. These insights inform surgical refinement and patient counseling, laying a foundation for enhanced clinical protocols.

Speech following Le Fort I Maxillary Advancement in Cleft Maxillary hypoplasia - an objective and subjective outcome analysis

PURPOSE

To objectively evaluate the effect of maxillary advancement on speech and VPI using video-fluoroscopy (VFS), direct nasoendoscopy, and speech evaluation and subjectively assess patients and their peer's perception regarding their speech outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

27 cleft patients who underwent Lefort 1 maxillary advancement were divided into 2 groups- Group A with 4-7 mm of advancement and Group B with 8-13 mm advancement. VFS in lateral view, nasoendoscopy, and speech recordings were performed pre and 6 months postoperatively. VFS assessed the relative position of velum in relation to the pharyngeal wall, speech was evaluated for changes in nasal emission, resonance, and articulation along with nasal endoscopy to assess the overall function of the velopharyngeal valve. Subjective speech evaluation was done with a Patient-Reported Outcome Measure [PROM] questionnaire.

RESULTS

As per VFS, for every 1 mm maxillary advancement, the velopharyngeal gap at rest increased by 1.75 mm in group A and 1.58 mm in group B. The compensatory changes in group B were more pronounced. Post-operative VFS showed velar closure remained the same as preoperative closure in 86.7%, and worsened in 13.3% in group A whereas it remained unchanged in 66.7%, improved in 25%, and worsened in 8.3% in group B. In nasoendoscopy, the closure pattern showed no change in 86.6%, improved in 6.7%, and deteriorated in 8.3% in group A while there was no change in 83.4%, improved in 8.3%, and deteriorated in 8.3% in group B. Dental and labiodental articulation statistically improved [p < 0.05] after surgery. PROM reported 85.7% of patients with improved speech, 82.1% improved sound quality along with 89.3% improvement in articulation.

CONCLUSION

The primary cause for functional impairment and poor aesthetics in cleft deformity is the maxillary hypoplasia and therefore, should be the focus during correction. The pre-operative VP status or the amount of maxillary advancement could not predict the postoperative VP status. Maxillary advancement over 10 mm did not seem to significantly affect the final VP status. Articulation improves due to increased tongue space and favorable dental segment positioning. Mild to moderate immediate post op changes in nasality improves or even reverts to their preoperative status in the majority of the cases in about six months.

Measuring the Change in Soft Palate Length and Shape Following Maxillary Advancement: A Cohort Study in Patients with Orofacial Clefts

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a method of measuring the change in palatal length and shape following maxillary advancement using synchronous lateral videofluoroscopy and voice recording in order to understand how movement of the maxilla may affect VPI risk in patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study of children with cleft lip and/or palate.

SETTING

Single center, tertiary children's hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with cleft lip and/or palate who underwent maxillary advancement between 2016-21 inclusive.

INTERVENTIONS

Maxillary advancement surgery, including those who underwent concurrent mandibular procedures.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The length of the soft palate and the genu angle were measured throughout palatal dynamic range. Pre- and post-operative measurements were compared using a one sided T-test, with subgroup analysis for patients with clinical VPI.

RESULTS

Ten patients were examined. The mean distance of maxillary advancement was 10.5 mm. The average increase in pre-genu soft palate length was 2.8 mm in the resting position and 2.9 mm in the closed position. The genu angle decreased in the closed position by 16.3 degrees.

CONCLUSIONS

The soft palate showed limited ability to lengthen following maxillary advancement and this may explain the risk of VPI. There was partial compensation by the muscle sling of the palate as demonstrated by a more acute post-operative genu angle and this suggests one reason for the variability of VPI reported. Future research is required to investigate how length and shape changes measured using this method can predict VPI risk.

Does Distraction Lower Risk of VPI Compared to Conventional Maxillary Advancement? A Retrospective Cohort Study of Adolescents with Cleft Palate

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether method of maxillary advancement in adolescents with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP ± L) influences post-operative velopharyngeal function.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

SETTING

Pediatric Tertiary Care Hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred and ninety-nine patients with CP ± L after LeFort I osteotomy for maxillary advancement at our institution between January 2007 and June 2019.

INTERVENTIONS

LeFort I osteotomy via distraction osteogenesis (DO) or conventional osteotomy (CO).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Patients who underwent DO or CO were compared for the presence of new velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), as measured by perceptual rating by a craniofacial speech-language pathologist.

Of the 199 patients who underwent maxillary advancement, 126 were available for analysis. The DO group was younger, male, and had more severe maxillary hypoplasia. Following surgery, 17/41 (41.5%) of the DO group had new VPI, compared to just 23/85 (27.1%) of the CO group. After adjusting for cleft type and predicted maxillary advancement, however, there was not sufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis of no difference in risk of post-operative VPI between the two surgical groups (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.40, 95% CI 0.68-2.90). Increased prevalence of VPI after DO versus CO was primarily observed among patients with a pre-operative velopharyngeal need ratio < 0.8 (PR = 2.01, 95% CI 0.79-5.10) and patients with normal velopharyngeal function pre-operatively (PR = 2.86, 95% CI 0.96-8.50).

Our results suggest an increased rather than decreased risk of VPI following DO relative to CO. This association is primarily seen among those with a smaller velopharyngeal ratio or perceptually normal velopharyngeal function pre-operatively.

Long-term speech outcome after anterior distraction osteogenesis of the maxilla in patients with cleft lip and palate

Advancement of the maxilla may increase the distance between the soft palate and the posterior pharyngeal wall in patients with cleft lip and palate, implying a risk of velopharyngeal dysfunction. The aim was to evaluate long-term speech outcome in a consecutive series of patients treated with distraction osteogenesis (DO). Fourteen out of the 16 patients agreed to participate. A long-term speech follow-up was performed 1.5 to 13.5 years after DO. For two participants, audio recordings before DO were missing, and for another one, it was incomplete. The percentage of consonants correct (PCC) based on phonetic transcription and perceived velopharyngeal competence rated on a three-point scale were assessed before and after DO by three independent judges, based on audio recordings of reading of standardised sentences. Also, the participants were asked how they perceived their speech after DO. Changes in PCC were insignificant. Four participants perceived deteriorated speech related to DO. In two cases, the subjective deterioration did not correlate to results from perceptual assessment. In two others, the subjective deterioration correlated with the perceptual assessment, and the velopharyngeal function was judged as being incompetent after DO. After secondary velopharyngeal surgery, velopharyngeal function improved to competent in one case and marginally incompetent in the other. The results need to be interpreted with caution due to methodological limitations but indicate that some patients develop deteriorated velopharyngeal function after DO. The impact on articulation needs to be further explored. It is important that patients are informed before treatment of the risk of velopharyngeal dysfunction after DO.

Pearls and pitfalls in contemporary management of marginal velopharyngeal inadequacy among children with cleft palate

Marginal velopharyngeal inadequacy (MVPI) is a particular status of velopharyngeal closure after cleft palate repair. The physiological and phonological characteristics of patients with MVPI are significantly different from those with typical velopharyngeal insufficiency. The pathological mechanisms and diagnostic criteria of MVPI are still controversial, and there is limited evidence to guide the selection of surgical and non- surgical management options and a lack of recognized standards for treatment protocols. Based on a systematic study of the relevant literatures, this review identifies specific problems that are currently under-recognized in the diagnosis and treatment of MVPI and provides guidelines for further exploration of standardized and reasonable intervention protocols for MVPI.

Impact of 3-dimensional anatomical changes secondary to orthognathic surgery on voice resonance and articulatory function: a prospective study

An evaluation was made of the impact of orthognathic surgery (OS) on speech, addressing in particular the effects of skeletal and airway changes on voice resonance characteristics and articulatory function. A prospective study was carried out involving 29 consecutive patientssubjected to OS. Preoperative, and short and long-term postoperative evaluations were made of anatomical changes (skeletal and airway measurements), speech evolution (assessed objectively by acoustic analysis: fundamental frequency, local jitter, local shimmer of each vowel, and formants F1 and F2 of vowel /a/), and articulatory function (use of compensatory musculature, point of articulation, and speech intelligibility). These were also assessed subjectively by means of a visual analogue scale. Articulatory function after OS showed immediate improvement and had further progressed at one year of follow up. This improvement significantly correlated with the anatomical changes, and was also notably perceived by the patient. On the other hand, although a slight modification in vocal resonance was reported and seen to correlate with anatomical changes of the tongue, hyoid bone, and airway, it was not subjectively perceived by the patients. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that OS had beneficial effects on articulatory function and imperceptible subjective changes in a patient's voice. Patients subjected to OS, apart from benefitting from improved articulatory function, should not be afraid that they will not recognise their voice after treatment.

Speech assessment following microsurgical soft palate repair

The aim of this study was to analyze speech intelligibility of children, who had undergone microsurgical soft palate repair according to Sommerlad. Cleft palate patients were treated by closure of the soft palate according to Sommerlad at about 6 months of age. At the age of 11, their speech was evaluated through automatic speech recognition. Word recognition rate (WR) was used as the outcome parameter of automatic speech recognition. To validate automatic speech results, an institute for speech therapy evaluated the speech samples for perceptual intelligibility. The results of this study group were compared to an age-matched control group. A total of 61 children were evaluated in this study, 29 in the study group and 32 in the control group. Study group patients had a lower word recognition rate (mean 43.03, SD 12.31) compared to the control group (mean 49.98, SD 12.54, p = 0.033). The magnitude of the difference was considered small (95% CI of the difference 0.6-13.3). The study group patients received significantly lower scores in the perceptual evaluation (mean 1.82, SD 0.58) compared to the control group mean (mean 1.51, SD 0.48, p = 0.028). Again, the magnitude of the difference was small (95% CI of the difference 0.03-0.57). Within the limitations of the study it seems that microsurgical soft palate repair according to Sommerlad at the age of 6 months might be a relevant alternative to other well established surgical techniques.

Current Concepts and Challenges in the Treatment of Cleft Lip and Palate Patients-A Comprehensive Review

Cleft lip and cleft palate has one of the highest incidences in the malformations of the oral cavity, that varies between populations. The background underlying the issue of cleft lip and palate is multifactorial and greatly depends on the genetic factors and environmental factors. The aim of this nonsystematic narrative review is to present the cleft palate and or lip pediatric population as target for interdisciplinary treatment. The purpose of this narrative review is to sum up the modern knowledge on the treatment of patients with clefts, as well as to highlight the importance of the great need for cooperation between different dental specialists along with medical professionals such as oral surgeons, prosthodontists, orthodontists along with medical professions such as pediatricians, speech therapists and phoniatrics, and laryngologist.

Comparing Surgical Advancement Outcomes of Retruded Maxilla in a Group of Egyptian Cleft Lip and Palate Subjects

BACKGROUND: Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is one of the most common congenital deformities involving intervention in several sub-specialties. AIM: The present study was conducted to investigate the amount of maxillary advancement obtained by three different methods. METHODS: A retrospective comparative study was conducted on 24 CLP patients who were treated with three surgical maxillary advancement techniques: Group A was treated with Le Fort I (LFI) orthognathic surgery with bone grafting and rigid fixation (LFI). Group B was treated with intraoral maxillary bone distraction (MIDO). Group C was treated with orthodontic traction by facemask (orthodontic facemasks [OFM]) plus corticotomy. All pre-operative data were collected, which included intraoral and extraoral clinical photos and dental casts. Pre-operative radiographic assessment was compared with post-operative values using digital panorama, multi-slice computed tomography and lateral cephalometric X-ray measuring Sella-nasion-A point; point A-nasion-point B points, with a follow-up period of 6 months. RESULTS: All approaches showed statistically significant success in maxillary advancement with p < 0.01. LFI has produced the highest advancement obtained with regard to the pre-operative advancement required (8.6 ± 1.4) and post-operative advancement achieved (7.8 ± 0.8). MIDO technique is an alternative method to LFI, but it gives less achieved post-operative maxillary advancement (6.25 ± 0.8) and is indicated for moderate cases. OFM gave the least advancement results; however, it has been the most convenient less-invasive method and was more suitable for unsevere cases. CONCLUSIONS: The three approaches produced satisfactory results in rehabilitating deficient maxilla in cleft patients, although each technique has limitations and indications. Future research is recommended to assess the technique’s long-term stability.

Relapse-related factors of Le Fort I osteotomy in cleft lip and palate patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

A systematic review search was based on the PICOS approach, as follows: population: cleft lip and palate patients; intervention: Le Fort I osteotomy; comparator: different surgical protocols; outcome: stability, recurrence or surgical complications; study designs: only case reports were excluded from the review. No restrictions were placed on language or year of publication. Risk of bias was analyzed, heterogeneity was assessed, and subgroup analysis was performed using a level of significance of 1% (p = 0.01). The search identified 248 citations, from which 29 studies were selected and a total of 797 patients enrolled. The level of agreement between the authors was considered excellent (k = 0.810 for study selection and k = 0.941 for study eligibility). Our results reported a mean maxillary advancement of 5.69 mm, a mean vertical downward/upward of 2.85/-2.02 mm and a mean clockwise rotation of 4.15°. Greater surgical relapse rates were reported for vertical downward movement (-1.13 mm, 39.6%), followed by clockwise rotation (-1.41°, 33.9%), sagittal (-0.99 mm, 17.4%) and vertical upward (0.11 mm, 5.4%) movements. No relevance was found regarding the type of cleft, the type of Le Fort I osteotomy, concomitant bone grafting, surgical overcorrection, postoperative rigid or elastic intermaxillary fixation, or retention splint. Study limitations were heterogeneity and the low number of high-quality studies. In spite of reported high relapse rates, Le Fort I osteotomy for maxillary reposition is the first-choice procedure for selected cleft lip and palate patients in whom extensive maxillary movements are not required, because of its safety and its three-dimensional movement versatility in one-step surgery. Otherwise, distraction osteogenesis should be considered as the gold standard treatment.

Precision Pharyngeal Flap: An Individualized, Patient-Specific Surgery for the Treatment of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

BACKGROUND

The pharyngeal flap is one of the most common secondary surgeries for the correction of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) for patients with cleft palate and/or cleft lip and palate. This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the precision pharyngeal flap surgery performed by the senior author.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Children with VPI, who underwent precision pharyngeal flap, were retrospectively examined. All surgical procedures were performed by the senior author. The flap size was individually configured based on the patients' preoperative nasopharyngoscopic analysis and speech function evaluation. Pre- and post-operative velopharyngeal functions were assessed using perceptual speech evaluation and nasometric analysis; factors affecting surgical outcomes were determined.

RESULTS

Of 138 patients, 112 (women: 53, men: 59) were included in analyses, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The median follow-up period was 21 months (range: 9-120). Postoperative perceptual speech evaluation revealed improved velopharyngeal function in 108 (96.4%). There were no reports of postoperative hyponasality (preoperative, 1.8% versus postoperative, 0%; P = 0.053). Other parameters of perceptual speech evaluation (hypernasality, nasal emission, articulation error, and intelligibility) showed significant improvement postoperatively (P < 0.01). Postoperative nasalance scores revealed sufficient postoperative resonance rating in 96% of patients. No patients experienced postoperative complications (bleeding, airway obstruction, and surgical wound dehiscence).

CONCLUSIONS

Individually configured pharyngeal flaps designed based on preoperative nasopharyngoscopic examination coupled with precise surgical techniques led to the high surgery success rate for VPI treatment.

Le Fort I Osteotomy in Cleft Patients: Maxillary Advancement and Articulation

BACKGROUND

Maxillary advancement may affect speech in cleft patients.

AIMS

To examine whether the amount of maxillary advancement and preoperativecephalometric skeletal and dentoalveolar relationships are associated with articulation errors of the Finnish alveolar consonants /s/, /l/, and /r/ in cleft patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-seven nonsyndromic cleft patients who underwent Le Fort I or bimaxillary osteotomies were evaluated retrospectively. Pre- and post-operative lateral cephalometric radiographs and standardized speech video recordings were analyzed. The Aspin-Welch unequal variance t test, Student t test sign test, intraclass correlation and Kappa statistics were used in the statistical analyses.

RESULTS

The mean advancement of the maxilla (point A) was 4.65 mm horizontally (range -2.80 to 11.30) and -3.82 mm vertically (range -14.20 to 3.90). The overall articulation (especially the sounds /s/ and /l/) improved significantly postoperatively, but the amount of maxillary advancement did not affect the articulation. The preoperative mean percentages of /s/, /l/, and /r/ errors were 32%, 33%, 46% and the postoperative percentages 23%, 19%, 40%, respectively. Preoperative articulation errors of /s/ were related to palatal inclination of the upper incisors.

CONCLUSIONS

Orthognathic surgery may improve articulation errors. The amount of maxillary advancement is not related to the improvement.

Is there a correlation between skull base flexure and palatal anomalies in patients with 22q11 deletion syndrome and velopharyngeal dysfunction?

The study aimed at assessing the relationship between skull base morphology, represented by skull base and nasopharyngeal angles, and palatal anatomy among patients with 22q11DS and velopharyngeal dysfunction. Retrospective analysis of patients with 22q11DS and velopharyngeal dysfunction. Age, sex, severity of velopharyngeal dysfunction, type of cleft (overt cleft palate, submucous cleft palate, occult submucous cleft palate, or no-CP, and cephalometric skull base angles were reviewed. Correlations between type of palatal anomaly and the angles were assessed. Among 132 patients, 71 were male (53.8%) and 61 were female (46.2%), ages 3.3-40.0 years (mean 8.3 ± 6.10). No difference in the mean cranial-base angle (P = 0.353) or in the distribution of the three types of cranial base angle sizes was found among the palatal anomaly groups (P = 0.137). More men had normal cranial base angles and more women had acute angulation (P = 0.008). A positive correlation was found between the skull base and nasopharyngeal angles (P = 0.001, r = -0.590). No direct correlation was found between cranial base morphology and palatal anomalies in patients with 22q11DS, and velopharyngeal dysfunction. This is probably because skull base and palate morphology contribute independently to velopharyngeal dysfunction.

Videofluoroscopic Findings as Predictors of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency After Orthognathic Surgery in Patients With Cleft Lip and Palate

BACKGROUND

Midface retrusion is a common problem in patients with cleft lip and palate owing to the lack of adequate growth of the maxilla. Midface advancement surgery is a definite treatment for midface retrusion; however, the subsequent oropharyngeal airway changes might result in velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) in affected patients. Determining the predictors of VPI beforehand and modifying the surgical procedure would be beneficial.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of 42 patients with cleft lip and palate who underwent orthognathic surgery from 2013 to 2014 was performed. A total of 25 patients met the inclusion criteria and had undergone complete pre- and postsurgery videofluoroscopy, nasopharyngoscopy (NPS), and speech assessment. We compared 2 groups of patients, those who showed NPS finding changes of more than 0.1 (8 patients) and those without changes (17 patients), by measuring the distances of the contact point to the tip of the velum, gap size at maximum closure (MC) and rest, contact area length, lateral wall closure rate, closure velocity, and 2 angles (from the velum to the hard palate and genu) at MC and rest. The amount of maxillary advancement was also recorded.

RESULTS

Among the 8 patients with NPS finding changes, 3 underwent Furlow palatoplasty for VPI. No significant difference was found in the amount of maxillary advancement between the groups (5.8 vs 5.7 mm). Significant differences were found in the preoperative gap size at MC and angle at the genu at MC (P = 0.035 and .012). These could be considered as the predictors before surgery. After surgery, a significant difference was found in the contact area, lateral wall closure rate, and gap size at MC (P = 0.005, 0.018, and 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Videofluoroscopy is a relatively applicable method of determining dynamic changes in the velum function. By performing videofluoroscopy before midface advancement surgery in patients with cleft lip and palate, we may predict the risk of VPI and consider alternative surgical strategies.

Occlusal and Functional Improvement of Patients With Midfacial Hypoplasia Corrected Using Intraoral Tooth-Borne Mid-Maxillary Osteodistractors at Teaching Hospital-Karapitiya, Sri Lanka

OBJECTIVE

Mid-maxillary osteodistraction (MMOD) is a novel technique. This study seeks to assess the occlusal and functional improvement of patients with midfacial hypoplasia secondary to cleft lip and palate.

DESIGN

This was done as a retrospective study at the Regional Cleft Centre of the Teaching Hospital-Karapitiya (THK).

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 81 patient records were accessed on those who underwent MMOD with a tooth-borne intraoral device from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2016, at THK.

METHODS

Records of the patients included pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalograms, study models, speech assessments, and photographs.

RESULTS

An advancement ranging from 5 to 12 mm (mean, 8.14 mm) was achieved in all patients; 80% (n = 63) and 87.65% (n = 71) showed improvement in consonant production and quality of speech. These were statistically significant (P < .05). With regard to the Peer Assessment Rating score assessing the occlusal improvement, 97.6% showed an improvement whereas only 2 patients showed no improvement. There was a significant improvement in sella (S), nasion (N), and point A (SNA) angle; point A, the nasion, and point B (ANB) angle; and the maxillary length over the treatment period (P < .05). The change in the ANB angle and maxillary length significantly differed between genders with males having a comparatively higher improvement. The profile improvements were noteworthy on the profile photographs.

CONCLUSION

This relatively novel approach to maxillary advancement by maxillary distraction using a combined surgical and modified orthodontic technique has proven to be successful. This protocol and the technique have improved function, occlusion, and the aesthetics.

Distraction Osteogenesis Versus Orthognathic Surgery: Demystifying Differences in Concepts, Techniques and Outcomes

Introduction

The popularity and interest evoked by orthognathic surgery and distraction osteogenesis are undisputed in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery. However, questions regarding the individual identities of either of them with clarity in their concepts, techniques and outcomes have remained unanswered. The aim of this review is to shed light on these questions.

Methods

This review is structured as a narrative review of thirty years of literature available in the specialities of orthognathic surgery and distraction osteogenesis.

Conclusion

The authors present a review of existing literature combined with contrasting experience gained over the years in providing an overview of the merits and demerits of the two surgical techniques which will aid the clinician in justifying the use of one technique over the other.

Effect of maxillary advancement on speech and velopharyngeal function of patients with cleft palate: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review (SR) aimed to evaluate speech and velopharyngeal function (VPF) changes of patients with cleft palate (CLP) after maxillary advancement (MA) surgery. A two-phase PROSPERO-registered SR (CRD42019141370) was conducted following the PRISMA statements. Search strategies were developed for main databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, COCHRANE, LILACS, and EBSCOhost) and Grey literature information sources. The GRADE tool was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. From a total of 908 articles, 10 (205 men and 147 women; mean age ranging from 18.0 to 25.7 years) were selected for meta-analysis. Moderate to high risk of bias (Rob) was observed. The most common methods for outcomes evaluation were the Nasometer (speech) and nasoendoscopy (VPF). Speech changed from normal to hypernasal, and VPF worsening were reported in most studies. Comparing maxillary advancement interventions (osteogenic distraction versus Le Fort I), no statistically significant differences were found regarding benefit on speech and VPF. In summary, the effect of MA on speech and VPF remains controversial in CLP patients. The RoB, inconsistencies, and imprecisions severely affected the overall quality of evidence. Further adequately delineated clinical studies are necessary to investigate the potential effect of MA interventions on speech and VPF in CLP patients.