Three-Dimensional Cephalometric Evaluation of Maxillary Growth following in utero Repair of Cleft Lip and Alveolar-Like Defects in the Mid-Gestational Sheep Model

Vol. 21, No. 1, 2006

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Paper

Three-Dimensional Cephalometric Evaluation of Maxillary Growth following in utero Repair of Cleft Lip and Alveolar-Like Defects in the Mid-Gestational Sheep Model
Moschos A. Papadopoulos^a, Nikolaos A. Papadopulos^b, Christina Jannowitz^c, Peter Boettcher^d, Julia Henke^c, Rudolf Stolla^e, Hans-Florian Zeilhofer^f, Laszlo Kovacs^b, Edgar Biemer^b

^aDepartment of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece;
^bDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and
^cInstitute of Experimental Oncology and Therapy Research, Technical University Munich, and
^dDepartment of Small Animal Surgery and Institute of Veterinary Anatomy and
^eClinic for Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, and
^fDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Basel, Switzerland and Center of Advanced Studies on Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Fetal Diagn Ther 2006;21:105-114 (DOI: 10.1159/000089059)

Key Words

Cleft lip and palate
Intrauterine surgery
Mid-gestational sheep model
Fetal bone graft
Maxillary growth
Three-dimensional computed tomography
Three-dimensional cephalometric analysis

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate maxillary growth following in utero repair of surgically created cleft lip and alveolar (CLA)-like defects by means of three-dimensional (3D) computer tomographic (CT) cephalometric analysis in the mid-gestational sheep model. Methods: In 12 sheep fetuses a unilateral CLA-like defect was created in utero (untreated control group: 4 fetuses). Four different bone grafts were used for the alveolar defect closure. After euthanasia, CT scans of the skulls of the fetuses, 3D reconstructions, and a 3D-CT cephalometric analysis were performed. Results: The comparisons between the operated and nonoperated skull sides as well as of the maxillary asymmetry among the experimental groups revealed no statistically significant differences of the 12 variables used. Conclusions: None of the surgical approaches used for the in utero correction of CLA-like defects seem to affect significantly postsurgical maxillary growth; however, when bone graft healing takes place, a tendency for almost normal maxillary growth can be observed.

Author Contacts

Nikolaos A. Papadopulos, MD, Privatdozent
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar
Technical University of Munich, Ismaningerstrasse 22, DE-81675 Munich (Germany)
Tel. +49 89 41402171, Mobile +49 172 6441941, Fax +49 89 41404869
E-Mail n.papadopulos@lrz.tum.de

Article Information

This study has received the Annual Scientific Award of the Association of German Plastic Surgeons for the year 2004.

Received: September 29, 2004
Accepted after revision: January 6, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 10
Number of Figures : 4, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 42

Medline Abstract (ID 16354987)

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