Effects of maxillaryprotraction in pre-pubertal patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate

：Objective To investigatethe effects of maxillary protraction on anterior crossbite in repaired pre-pubertalpatients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate(UCLP).Methods Prospectivecontrolled clinical trial was carried out.Eighteen UCLP patients with anteriorcrossbite,aged 9.63±1.24 years,were the experimental subjects.Fourteen UCLP patients withsimilar malocclusion,aged 8.71±1.92 years,were selected as controls.All patients werebefore puberty according to the evaluation of the hand wrist radiograms.A Hyrax applianceand reverse headgear were applied.Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken before andafter the treatment.Computerized cephalometric analysis was carried out.Results Aftertreatment in experimental group.the maxilla moved forward more significantly.The mandiblerotated downward and backward.The intermaxillary relationship and soft tissue profileimproved significantly.The rate of maxillary and mandibular Contribution was 1:1.7.ConelusionsMaxillary protraction could improve the imermaxillary relationship and softtissue profile in UCLP patients with mild or moderate skeletal deformity before puberty.