Early postnatal development of the mandible in children with isolated cleft palate and children with nonsyndromic Robin sequence

Objective: Analysis of early postnatal mandibular size and growth velocity in children with untreated isolated cleft palate (ICP), nonsyndromic Robin sequence (RS), and a control group of children with unilateral incomplete cleft lip (UICL). Material: 114 children (66 isolated cleft palate, 7 Robin sequence, 41 unilateral incomplete cleft lip) drawn from a group representing all Danish cleft children born from 1976 through 1981. All children were examined at both 2 and 22 months of age. Methods: Cephalometric x-rays and maxillary plaster casts. Mandibular length and height were measured and mandibular growth velocity (mm/year) was calculated. Cleft width was measured on the casts at 2 months of age. Results: Mean mandibular length and posterior height were significantly smaller in isolated cleft palate and Robin sequence, compared with unilateral incomplete cleft lip. Mandibular length in Robin sequence was also significantly shorter, compared with isolated cleft palate. No significant difference was found between mean mandibular growth velocities in the three groups. No significant correlation was found between mandibular length and cleft width in either isolated cleft palate or Robin sequence at 2 months of age. Conclusion: The children with isolated cleft palate and Robin sequence had small mandibles shortly after birth, but with a relatively normal growth potential. No true mandibular catch-up growth was found up to 22 months of age in either group. No significant correlation was found between mandibular size and cleft width in either group at 2 months of age. However, there was a significant trend toward the shorter the mandible, the more severe the sagittal extension of the cleft.