Cephalometric characteristics of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate treated using either one- or two-stage palatoplasty

Purpose The purpose of this study is to compare the changes in maxillary and mandibular growth in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) after one-stage (Wardill) and two-stage (Perko) palatoplasty. Materials and Methods At initial examination, 45 patients with UCLP and Hellmann's stage IIIA UCLP who underwent palatoplasty using Wardill's method and 45 patients who underwent palatoplasty using Perko's method were included in this study. At the start of the corrective multibracket treatment, 29 patients who underwent palatoplasty using Wardill's method and 30 patients who underwent palatoplasty using Perko's method were included in this study. Measurements of cephalometric analysis were compared between the groups. Results In the horizontal direction, less maxillary growth was observed in patients treated using Wardill's method than in those treated using Perko's method at initial examination and at the beginning of corrective multibracket treatment. However, both methods led to a smaller maxilla than the reference values of the maxilla. In the vertical direction, the growth of the maxilla was not significantly different between the two groups. However, the direction of mandibular growth differed significantly, indicating that Perko's method led to a reduction in the lower face height compared with Wardill's method and reference values. Conclusions In patients who underwent Perko's palatoplasty, skeletal injustice was improved during orthodontic treatment by extrusion of the maxillary molars and posterior rotation of the mandible.