Timing of Spheno-Occipital Synchondrosis Ossification in Children and Adolescents with Cleft Lip and Palate: A Retrospective Case-Control Study

• Main Authors: Francisco Vale, Inês Francisco, António Lucas, Ana Roseiro, Francisco Caramelo, Adriana Sobral
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-11-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: cleft lip; cleft palate; cone beam computed tomography
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/23/8889
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

Background: Cleft lip and palate (CLP) can affect the development of the maxilla; which may create a midfacial deficiency as well as an interference of the facial growth pattern and dentofacial esthetics. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the chronological age of complete fusion of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis (SOS) in cleft lip and palate patients and a control group; using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Methods: In this retrospective study; 125 patients were enrolled (cleft lip and palate group (<i>n </i>= 91); control group (<i>n </i>= 34)). Age comparison was made with a chi-square test; and a Kaplan–Meier analysis determined the median time to reach complete fusion of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis (<i>p </i><0.05). Results: The experimental group showed statistically significant differences in the median time for complete ossification between males and females (<i>p </i>= 0.019). The median time for complete ossification of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis was; for males; 15.0 years in both groups; for females; it was 14.0 years and 13.0 years in the experimental group and in the control group; respectively. Both for males and females; there were no statistically significant differences between experimental and control groups (<i>p </i>= 0.104). Conclusions: The present study showed no differences in the ossification of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis between individuals with and without cleft lip and/or palate