The Difference in Cervical Vertebral Skeletal Maturation between Cleft Lip/Palate and Non Cleft Lip/Palate Orthodontic Patients
Objective The aim was to evaluate differences in the cervical vertebral skeletal maturity of unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and non cleft lip/palate (non CLP) Saudi male orthodontic patients. Method This cross sectional multicenter study took place at the dental school, King Saud University and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between October 2014 and September 2015. The records of Saudi male orthodontic patients with UCLP (n 69) were collected. Cervical vertebral maturation was assessed using their cephalometric radiographs. The records of 138 age matched non CLP Saudi male orthodontic patients served as controls. Results There was a significant difference in skeletal maturity between the UCLP and non CLP groups, as evident in the delayed skeletal development among the UCLP participants. Moreover, pubertal growth spurt onset was significantly earlier in the non cleft participants in comparison with the UCLP participants (p 0.009) Conclusions There is delayed skeletal maturity among the UCLP Saudi male population in comparison with their non CLP age matched peers.
BioMed research international