Cone beam computed tomography in the assessment of alveolar bone grafting in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To quantify the treatment outcome of secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) in individuals with unilateral cleft lip and palate using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to reveal needs for improvement in surgical technique.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

CBCT images taken 6 months after SABG of 35 patients were analysed. Vertical and horizontal bone supports of the grafted bone at three levels of the roots of the adjacent teeth were classified, the height of the nasal floor was compared with the unaffected side, and the inter- and intraexaminer reproducibility of these evaluations was assessed.

RESULTS:

The grafted bone filled the defect in all three vertical measurement levels in 34 per cent. The labiopalatal thickness of the grafted bone was good in at least one-third of the root length in 66 per cent and fair in 34 per cent. Typically, the bone graft was deficient in the apical and palatal direction. Clear asymmetry in the nasal floor was found in 72 per cent. Kappa values indicated excellent agreement for all but one measured parameter.

LIMITATIONS:

This is a preliminary study involving only a limited number of study subjects.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results showed mainly a good or fair treatment outcome. Deficiency of the bone graft was observed mostly in the apical and palatal areas of the defect. Asymmetry of the nasal floor was observed frequently. Careful insertion of the bone graft towards the palatal and apical direction of the cleft is recommended.

• Authors: Anni Suomalainen, Thomas Åberg, Jorma Rautio, Kirsti Hurmerinta
• Journal: European journal of orthodontics (Eur J Orthod) Vol. 36 Issue 5 Pg. 603-11 (Oct 2014) ISSN: 1460-2210 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24509615 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Orthodontic Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: [email protected].

Topics

• Alveolar Bone Grafting (methods)
• Alveolar Process (diagnostic imaging)
• Bone Transplantation (methods)
• Cephalometry (methods)
• Child
• Cleft Lip (diagnostic imaging, surgery)
• Cleft Palate (diagnostic imaging, surgery)
• Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (methods)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Maxilla (diagnostic imaging)
• Nasal Cavity (diagnostic imaging)
• Palatal Expansion Technique
• Reproducibility of Results
• Retrospective Studies
• Tooth Apex (diagnostic imaging)
• Tooth Root (diagnostic imaging)
• Treatment Outcome