Alveolar cleft bone grafting (Part I): Primary bone grafting

The study aims at assessing wound healing and safety of single-stage two-layers continuous closure in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).

In this retrospective, descriptive cohort study, we assessed wound healing without fistula formation at 1, 3, and 6 months after a single-stage two-layer UCLP repair, in which the midline suture is continuously circular all along the oral and nasal sides. We examined lengths of hospital stay and the incidence of intra- and postoperative adverse events. Furthermore, we compared the cleft width at birth and on the day of surgery, after presurgical orthopaedics.

Eleven UCLP patients underwent one cleft surgery between July 2016 and June 2018 at the age of 8–9 months. Full primary healing occurred in all patients without fistulas. Median length of post-operative hospital stay was 5 days (range = 4–9 days). No intra- or postoperative adverse events above Grade I (according to ClassIntra and Clavien-Dindo, respectively) occurred. Median and interquartile range (IQR) of the palatal cleft width decreased significantly from birth to surgery, i.e., from 12.0 mm (10.8–13.6 mm) to 5.0 mm (4.0–7.5 mm) anteriorly and from 14.0 mm (11.5–15.0 mm) to 7.3 mm (6.0–8.5 mm) posteriorly (p = 0.0033 in both cases).

Given these preliminary results, the concept of single-stage continuous circular closure in UCLP has potential for further investigation. However, it remains to be proven that there are no relevant adverse effects such as inhibition of maxillary growth.

Registered in clinicaltrials.gov:NCT04108416.

Comparar los resultados de alveoloplastias secundarias realizadas en nuestro Hospital cuando utilizamos material de osteosíntesis y cuando el injerto óseo no precisa de dicho material, relacionándolos con factores como el sexo y la edad.

Realizamos estudio retrospectivo de los años 2014-2019 en nuestro Hospital y seleccionamos los pacientes que cumplían los criterios de inclusión en nuestro estudio. Establecimos 2 grupos de edades: grupo A, edades entre 5-12 años (alveoloplastia secundaria mixta); grupo B, más de 12 años (alveoloplastia secundaria tardía). Para el injerto óseo se utilizó hueso autólogo procedente de cresta ilíaca o calota parietal. Dividimos los pacientes en 2 grupos: grupo I, pacientes con alveoloplastias que precisaron de material de osteosíntesis; grupo II, pacientes que no precisaron de material de osteosíntesis. Parámetros evaluados: los criterios de éxito de la alveoloplastia se valoraron según los parámetros clínicos descritos por Precious. La alveoloplastia era exitosa si cumplían todos los criterios de Precious al año de intervención. Evaluamos las complicaciones postoperatorias en ambos grupos. El análisis estadístico se realizó con el test exacto de Fisher para variables cualitativas.

El éxito de la alveoloplastia se produjo en el 89,4% de los pacientes del grupo I, mientras que en el grupo II fue del 90,3%. La alveoloplastia fue exitosa en el 87,5% del sexo femenino frente al 91,17% de varones. En el 91,48% de los pacientes del grupo A la intervención fue un éxito frente al 66,6% del grupo B. En 2 pacientes del grupo I el material de osteosíntesis no se degradó en la valoración anual. No existieron diferencias significativas en ninguna de las comparaciones.

La utilización de material de osteosíntesis no altera la integración del injerto óseo en pacientes a los que se realiza alveoloplastia. Factores como el sexo o la edad no influyen tampoco en los resultados de las intervenciones.

To compare the results of secondary alveoloplasty performed in one Hospital when osteosynthesis material was used and when the bone graft does not require this material, and relating them to factors such as gender and age.

A retrospective study was conducted from the years 2014 to 2019 in this Hospital on the selected patients who met the inclusion criteria. Two periods of ages, period A: ages between 5-12 years (mixed secondary alveoloplasty) and period B: greater than 12 years (late secondary alveoloplasty). Autologous bone from the iliac crest or parietal calotte was used for the bone graft. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group I: patients with alveoloplasties that required osteosynthesis material. Group II: patients who did not require osteosynthesis material. Parameters evaluated: the success criteria for alveoloplasty were assessed according to the clinical parameters described by Precious. Alveoloplasty was successful if they met all the criteria of Precious in the year of intervention. Postoperative complications in both groups were evaluated. The statistical analysis was performed using the exact Fisher test for qualitative variables.

Alveoloplasty was successful in 89.4% of patients in group I, while it was 90.3% in group II. Alveoloplasty was successful in 87.5% of females compared to 91.17% of males. The intervention was a success in 91.48% of patients in group A, compared to 66.6% in group B. The osteosynthesis material in two patients of group I was not degraded in the annual assessment. There were no significant differences in any of the comparisons.

The use of osteosynthesis material does not alter the integration of the bone graft in patients that undergo alveoloplasty. Factors such as gender or age do not influence the results of the interventions.

The study was based on a retrospective cephalometric assessment of 10-year-olds in order to evaluate the influence of early secondary bone grafting on craniofacial development in patients suffering from non-syndromic complete unilateral cleft lip and palate.

The study consisted of 79 patients in the early and 67 patients in the late secondary bone grafting group. The mean age at alveolar bone grafting was 2.5 years (SD 0.03) in the first group and 9.8 years (SD 2.3) in the second group. The primary cleft repair of these 146 patients was always performed in accordance with the one-stage method. Additionally, the non-cleft Control group was comprised of 56 children of the same ethnicity and age.

The cephalometric analysis performed at age 10 revealed similar overall characteristics of observed growth disturbances in both cleft groups in comparison to the Control group, such as: inhibition of vertical and anterior maxillary development, the tendency of the mandible to rotate clockwise, and a prevalence of vertical over horizontal facial growth. The comparison between the cleft groups revealed a lack of growth differences in the vertical dimension and more pronounced anterior maxillary development inhibition in the early bone grafting group.

This study will be followed by a similar evaluation after craniofacial development is complete by a significant number of these patients in order to ascertain our conclusions.