Yunus Çetiner, Duygu Çelik Özen, İrfan Üstündağ, Elif Begüm Yiğit Çetiner, Şuayip Burak Duman, Bahadır Sancar
Regional variations in total bone thickness were identified in UCLP patients. These findings provide clinically relevant anatomical information and should be considered during preoperative assessment and surgical planning for Le Fort I osteotomy.
BACKGROUND: Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is one of the most common congenital anomalies affecting the craniofacial skeleton and is frequently associated with maxillary hypoplasia and midface deficiency. In these patients, orthognathic surgery-particularly Le Fort I osteotomy-constitutes a critical step in treatment. However, postoperative stability may be influenced by anatomical variations in the maxillary buttress regions. This study aimed to evaluate total bone thickness in the nasomaxillary and zygomaticomaxillary buttresses using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to compare the findings between Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate (UCLP) patients and age- and sex-matched non-cleft individuals.
METHODS: This retrospective study included CBCT images of 51 patients with UCLP and 51 age- and sex-matched control individuals. Bone thickness measurements were performed at predefined anatomical reference points representing the nasomaxillary and zygomaticomaxillary buttresses. Measurements were analyzed to evaluate regional thickness distribution patterns and intergroup differences. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare measurements between groups and between cleft and non-cleft sides in UCLP patients.
RESULTS: In the nasomaxillary and zygomaticomaxillary buttress regions, significant variations in total bone thickness were observed. Compared with controls, the UCLP group demonstrated lower values at several measurement sites, while marked differences were also identified between the cleft and non-cleft sides. The most pronounced differences were observed in the anterior regions, where the cleft side consistently exhibited reduced bone thickness. No significant right-left differences were detected in the control group.
CONCLUSIONS: Regional variations in total bone thickness were identified in UCLP patients. These findings provide clinically relevant anatomical information and should be considered during preoperative assessment and surgical planning for Le Fort I osteotomy.