Orthopedics Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Orthopedics, including details on chronic injuries, muscoskeletal disorders, surgery, reconstruction.

Presurgical cleft lip management: nasal alveolar molding.

Tollefson TT, Gere RR

Cleft and Craniofacial Program, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.

Continued advancement in the comprehensive care of children with cleft lip and palate has resulted in numerous innovative treatment protocols. The cooperation of numerous specialties has continued to expand the options for difficult cases. A high standard for aesthetic and functional results has been established. Presurgical treatment of a cleft alveolus and its associated soft tissues with presurgical orthopedics is just one of these techniques. Differing opinions of the effectiveness, growth disturbances, and additional costs of presurgical molding are often debated, but the concepts should be understood by any cleft surgeon or orthodontist involved in cleft care.

Published 22 May 2007 in Facial Plast Surg, 23(2): 113-22.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Orthopedics Research Today. All Rights Reserved.