Dental occlusion after Veau-Wardill-Kilner versus minimal incision technique repair of isolated clefts of the hard and soft palate.

[OBJECTIVE] To compare the Veau-Wardill-Kilner technique with a technique similar to the minimal incision technique described by Mendosa et al. on the basis of surgical complications and dentoalveolar status in the deciduous dentition.

[DESIGN] Retrospective study of medical and dental records and casts.

[PATIENTS] A consecutive series of 129 Caucasian children born with isolated cleft palate between 1980 and 1992.

[MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES] From medical records, the variables of time for surgery, blood loss, complications in the immediate postoperative period, and frequency of fistulas were evaluated. On dental casts, the variables of sagittal, transversal, and vertical relations; structure of the palatal mucosa; and height of the palatal vault were studied.

[RESULTS] Time for surgery was shorter in the extensive clefts repaired with a Veau-Wardill-Kilner technique. Blood loss was higher using the Veau-Wardill-Kilner technique. The width of the upper jaw was significantly narrower in the Veau-Wardill-Kilner group, compared with the minimal incision group. Scar tissue and pits of the palate were more frequently found in the Veau-Wardill-Kilner group.

[CONCLUSIONS] The minimal incision technique in this study has been shown to result in better development of the upper jaw with a better dental occlusion and palatal mucosa with significantly less scar tissue.