Retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes in bilateral cleft lip and palate patients after secondary alveolar bone grafting and premaxilla osteotomy, using a new dento-maxillary scoring system

Evaluation of relevant clinical outcomes in patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) after secondary aveolar bone grafting (SABG) and premaxilla osteotomy (PMO), through the use of a new scoring system. Data were collected retrospectively from all patients with BCLP who were operated on between 2004 and 2014, at the end of follow-up. The treatment protocol consisted of SABG + PMO in patients aged between 9 and 13 years. At the end of follow-up, the following parameters were scored: (un)interrupted dental arch, skeletal sagittal relationship, bone height using the Bergland/Abyholm criteria, and the presence of postoperative fistula. These parameters were combined to produce a dento-maxillary scoring system, giving a final score between 1 and 10. For statistical analysis, the independent t-test was used. Of 55 children, 45 were suitable for analysis. The mean age at time of surgery was 12.0 years (8.9–16.4 yrs), and the mean follow-up time was 11.7 years (5.8–15.8 yrs). The average number of surgeries executed under general anesthesia was 6 (range: 3–11). The average dento-maxillary score in this patient cohort was 7.6 (1–10; median: 8). Among these patients, 31 had an uninterrupted dental arch; the average Bergland/Abyholm score was 2.07; 30 patients exhibited an Angle class I incisor relationship; and, in 38 cases, the oronasal communication was closed after SABG + PMO treatment. A significant effect of fistulas was seen on dento-maxillary score (p = 0.001). Specifically, a significant effect of fistulas was seen on interrupted dental arch (p = 0.002) and on Bergland/Abyholm score (p = 0.037). The proposed dento-maxillary scoring system is a straightforward tool that can be used to describe and analyze the amount of dento-maxillary rehabilitation at the end of the treatment. Persistence of oronasal fistulas in patients with BCLP has a significant impact on interruption of the dental arch, and can influence dental results at the end of the second decade.