Sagittal Maxillary Growth in Patients with Unoperated Isolated Cleft Palate

Objective: To examine the sagittal maxillary growth during mixed and permanent dentition in patients with unoperated isolated cleft palate. Patients: A total of 41 patients with nonsyndromic unoperated isolated cleft palate, 16 with mixed dentition and 25 with permanent dentition. Main Outcome Measures: Cephalograms were analyzed to compare these patients with those with isolated cleft palate who had been repaired operatively as well with normal individuals. Results: The unoperated patients in mixed dentition showed reduced anterior-posterior length of the maxilla. In adults with unoperated isolated cleft palate with permanent dentition, the measurements showed maxillary retrusion as well as reduction in the anterior-posterior maxillary length. Conclusion: Sagittal growth of the maxilla appears to be inhibited in patients with unoperated isolated cleft palate, which became more severe with age.