Outcome of Patients with Complete Cleft Lip and Alveolus: 20-Year Follow-Up.

[BACKGROUND] Patients with cleft have functional and aesthetic impairment, and typically require several interventions as they grow. Long-term evaluation following a treatment protocol is essential, but such reports on patients with complete cleft lip and alveolus (CLA) are sparse in the literature.

[METHODS] A retrospective review was conducted of all patients with complete CLA born between January of 1995 and August of 2002 and treated at our center. Patients who received continuous multidisciplinary team care until 20 years of age were included, and patients with cleft palate and syndromic abnormalities were excluded. Facial bone growth was evaluated using cephalometric analysis.

[RESULTS] Eighty-seven and 11 patients with unilateral and bilateral CLA, respectively, were included. All patients underwent one-stage cheiloplasty with primary rhinoplasty. Revision lip/nose surgery was performed in 21.8% and 27.3% during growing age, and in 51.7% and 72.7% after skeletal maturity, respectively. Orthognathic surgery was performed in 20.7% and 27.3%, respectively. Compared with unilateral CLA patients, bilateral CLA patients had more operations (3.0 versus 3.7; P = 0.03) and a higher chance of undergoing alveolar bone grafting twice (1.1% versus 36.4%; P < 0.01). Patients with complete CLA had less hypoplastic maxilla, and underwent fewer operations than those with complete cleft lip and palate.

[CONCLUSIONS] Complete CLA is a less severe form of cleft, but the patients still require multiple interventions. This review revealed certain suboptimal results, and modifications have been made in the treatment protocol. Longitudinal follow-up and periodic assessment help to establish an ideal therapeutic strategy and improve overall cleft care.