A Comparative Study of Craniofacial Morphology in Adult Patients with Operated Cleft Palate / 华中科技大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

X-ray cephalometry was used to analyze craniofacial morphology in 32 males and 23 females with operated cleft palate. They underwent primary palatoplasty at the ages of 4 to 7 years and examination at the age of 18 to 25 years old. The cephalometric data were compared with that of the native Hubei adults with normal occlusions. The results indicated the cranial base in the cleft group was morphologically similar to that of the normal controls, there were a decreased angle of skeletal facial convexity, a shorter maxilla, an increased gonial angle and a more open mandibular plane angle in the clefts. All of these differences were significant. Surgical treatments at the age of 4 to 7 years old could cause craniofacial deformities at adults.