The Effects of Gingivoperiosteoplasty following Alveolar Molding with a Pin-Retained Latham Appliance versus Secondary Bone Grafting on Midfacial Growth in Patients with Unilateral Clefts

摘要

The only reason to perform a primary gingivoperiosteoplasty is to eliminate the need for secondary bone grafting. The secondary bone graft is painful and expensive, and its benefits are not appreciated for 1 to 3 years after the procedure. If primary gingivoperiosteoplasty can eliminate the need for secondary bone grafting, it would be well worth performing. However, the authors' 10 percent reported success rate with gingivoperiosteoplasty should alone cause them to abandon it as currently practiced in their unit. The authors also report significantly decreased midface growth in their patients who underwent pin-retained Latham apparatus alveolar molding followed by gingivoperiosteoplasty. For this reason as well, they are advised to abandon their current pin-retained Latham apparatus gingivoperiosteoplasty protocol