Outcome of alveolar bone grafting in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate operated by one-stage method.

The aim of the study was the assessment of outcome of alveolar bone grafting in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate operated on by the one-stage surgical procedure. Material and methods: The study concerned 108 patients (69 boys, 39 girls) with unilateral cleft of lip and palate operated by one stage method in the Surgical Department of Children and Adolescents IMC between 1994 and 2003. The reconstruction of alveolar process in these patients was carried out by autogenic bone graft at the age ranged from 1.5 to 16 years. The surgical procedure was the same regardless of age. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to age during this procedure: I − below 6 years, II − between 6 and 10 years, III − above 10 years. Evaluation of outcome of bone grafting was assessed on the base of Oslo classi"cation and Chelsea scale. The relation between the patient’s age at the time of bone grafting and the bone healing result was analyzed by the Spearman’s rank correlation coe#cient for the studied group as a whole, the age subgroups and the gender groups. Results: Good results of treatment (I and II type) was obtained in 93 (86%) of patients, bad (III and IV type) in 15 patients according to Olso classi"cation. According to Chelsea scale ultimate or satisfactory results (A, B, C) were obtained in 93 patients (86%) , unsatisfactory results (D, E, F) were obtained in 15 patients. Negative correlation between bone graft outcome and age of patients at the time of the procedure above 6 years was con"rmed. No statistical signi"cance in relation to sex of patients was found. Conclusions: According to two classi"cations (Oslo, Chelsea) good results of bone graft were obtained in 86% of patients. There was a relationship in outcome of bone grafting and the age of patients. The inter-gender correlation did not gain the statistical relevance.