The Challenge of 3D Bioprinting of Composite Natural Polymers PLA/Bioglass: Trends and Benefits in Cleft Palate Surgery

Cleft lip and palate is the fourth most common congenital malformation. Its prevalence is about 1 in 750 to 1 in 2000 live births. The consequences of this malformation are major: maxillary growth deficit, unaesthetic appearance, phonation disorders, difficulty in eating, and psycho-social disorders. Cleft palate repair establishes the division between the oral and nasal cavities. The alveolar bone graft is a key step. Different sites of autogenous bone harvesting are used, the most common being the iliac crest. Nevertheless, the large number of complications associated with harvesting has led to the use of substitute biomaterials. Bioactive glasses, discovered in 1969, are a group of synthetic silica-based materials with bone-bonding properties. Although 45S5 granular composition is commonly used in bone surgery to repair critical defects, it is only rarely used in the repair of cleft palates because this galenic form is only moderately adapted. However, advances in bone tissue engineering allow the shaping of three-dimensional scaffolds, which support colonization by host cells. Recent advances in computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) have even led to the 3D printing of scaffolds combining 45S5 bioglass with a natural and biocompatible poly-lactic acid matrix. The shape of the parts is customized and adapted to the particular shape of the critical bone defects. The objective of this literature review is to highlight the particularities of alveolar defects subsequent to facial clefts, then to detail the characteristics of the materials and technologies used to elaborate 3D matrices by bioprinting. Finally, we will explore research directions regarding their use in reconstructive surgery of cleft palates.

A Prospective comparative Study of Vermilion repair by Modified Vadvancement Vermilion Flap in Unilateral Cleft Lip Patients

Background Oro-facial clefts include a range of congenital deformities most commonly presenting as cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CLP) or isolated cleft palate (CP). CLP is the second most common congenital birth defect in the U.S. Aim of the Work to assess modified v-advancement vermilion flap combined with Tennison technique for vermilion repair in unilateral cleft lip regarding aesthetic outcome in comparison with repair of cleft lip by Tennison technique. Patients and methods This study was conducted in plastic, maxillofacial and reconstructive surgery department in Ain Shams University between September 2019 to February 2020. It included 20 patients divided into two group; the first group consisted of 10 patients who underwent repair of cleft lip by Tennison technique and the second group consisted of 10 patients who underwent repair by Tennison technique combined with v- advancement vermilion flap. Both groups were assessed postoperatively by Asher-McDade et. al. scoring system. Result The study showed statistically significant difference between the two groups as regard the white lip length which was more symmetrical in cases repaired by Tennison technique combined with modified v-advancement vermillion flap (P = 0.01). The bulge and the deficiency in the lateral vermilion were decreased in the group treated by Tennison technique with modified v-advancement vermilion flap. However the difference was statistically insignificant (P = 0.66). Conclusion The choice of a technique for surgical correction of UCL should be based on an evidence that this technique has the best functional and aesthetic outcomes. The findings of this study support the view that these two methods of cleft lip repair have their own advantages and disadvantages. Tennison technique combined with vadvancement vermilion flap achieved less bulge in the vermilion with no statistically significant difference.

OROFACIAL CLEFTING –AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW

Groove in the palatal vault makes an abnormal communication between oral and nasal cavity is known as oro-facial cleft. It is an uncommon presentation in day-to-day clinical practice. According to World Health Organization, children with the complaint of oro-facial clefts found to be high in India. Children are commonly suffering from functional and aesthetical problems due to Oro-facial clefting. Globally, an estimated 200,000 babies are born with a cleft lip, palate or both each year in the United States. Etiology may be congenital or acquired. Palatal and Alveolar cleft defects are the most common etiological factors. Cleft lip and cleft palate can sometimes develop in combination with a syndrome due to genetic causes. The acquired causes may be infections, trauma, postsurgical complications, neoplasms, periapical pathology, radio and chemo necrosis. Clinical features like defective speech, and upper respiratory tract and ear infections, fetid odor, bad taste, nasal regurgitation of food are the associated consequences of oro-nasal communication. Therefore, this malformation syndrome is an important public health problem. Many cleft palate and cleft lip develops due to the combination of genetic and environmental factors. There are more than 400 genes linked to formation of cleft lip and palate. Some environmental factors associated with cleft include medications, deficiency of folic acid, and cigarette, drugs or alcohol conception during pregnancy. In this article we review the anatomy, embryology, epidemiology clinical manifestations and treatment options of the oro-facial cleft Key words: Oro-facial Cleft, Classification, , Anatomy , Embryology, Morphology, Incidence, Congenital Anomaly

Tessier 3 and 4 Clefts and Choanal Atresia: An Unusual Association?

Introduction Craniofacial clefts are rare congenital anomalies that might involve both soft tissue and skeletal components. The association of Tessier cleft number 3 and 4 with choanal atresia appears to be unusual and only few clinical cases have been reported in published literature. Objectives Report a series of 13 cases of choanal atresia in patients with Tessier numbers 3 or 4 clefts and the literature review on this topic. Methods A literature review was undertaken via PUBMED database before April 2020 addressing the association between Tessier numbers 3 or 4 clefts and choanal atresia. Retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with both comorbidities at a tertiary hospital expertised in craniofacial anomalies. Results Literature review yielded 10 studies describing the relationship between choanal atresia and Tessier 3 and 4 facial clefts. We identified 98 patients diagnosed with medial oro-ocular facial clefts (Tessier 3 and 4) and 119 with choanal atresia at our institution over a 20 years time period. Altogether, 13 individuals were diagnosed with both malformations, 3 patients with number 3 cleft, and 10 patients with number 4 cleft. It represents 13.26% of the cases. Conclusion This study highlights the features of Tessier 3 and 4 facial clefts associated with choanal atresia. Although the publications regarding this association are very scarce, the authors present the largest series of cases of Tessier number 3 and 4 clefts with choanal atresia showing that association between these conditions could be not so unusual.

Tarsoconjunctival-Skin Flap as Another Option in Correcting Ectropion for Oro-Ocular Cleft Reconstruction: Report of 2 Cases

Facial clefts are rare facial anomalies. Among them, oro-ocular cleft remains a challenging malformation due to ectropion of the inferior palpebra which can constitute an emergency when the patient's globe is exposed leading to exposure keratitis and blindness. Here we report surgical procedures to correct lower eyelid ectropion using tarsoconjunctival-skin flap performed on 2 cases. In conclusion, tarsoconjunctival-skin flap can be provided to effectively correct lower eyelid ectropion and is a better option when nose correction is not involved simultaneously.

Non-Syndromic Cleft Palate and Transverse Limb Deficiency Segregating in a Family of Dogs

Oro-facial clefts are one of the most common birth defects in humans, most are non-syndromic, and few have established molecular diagnoses. Here we report the morphology and genetic transmission of isolated cleft palate in a naturally occurring dog model. Palate morphology was evaluated grossly, by microcomputed tomography, and by histologic examination of serial coronal sections. In repeated matings of a clinically normal sire/dam pair, 18% (12/68) of live-born pups had full-length cleft of the secondary palate with no other abnormalities. At the gestational stage of normal palate fusion, palate shelves of affected fetuses were above the tongue but did not meet at midline. Mandibles were normal, and oral epithelium and periderm were intact. Genetic transmission was determined in experimental backcross matings of surgically repaired affected dogs with a normal parent, which produced 20 cleft, 11 male and 9 female, and 24 normal-palate pups. Furthermore, all offspring of matings between affected dogs had cleft palate. These data were as expected under the hypothesis of autosomal recessive transmission of the cleft palate trait ([1 df, N = 44] Χ2 = 0.36, p = 0.55). About half of cleft offspring produced in backcross matings of which the dam had cleft palate, also exhibited various transverse limb deficiencies. No limb deficiencies occurred in backcross offspring of a dam with normal palate, suggesting a possible maternal effect. This dog family constitutes a large animal model of non-syndromic isolated cleft palate coincident with developmental limb deficiency.

Tessier 30 Facial Clefts—A Literature Review of 72 Cases (1996-2020), Suggested Treatment Protocol, Outcome Measures, Minimum Dataset for Future Case Reports, and Registries

Introduction: Tessier 30 facial cleft is a rare anomaly presenting in the soft and hard tissues over the central lower face. Owing to the rarity of cases and difficulty of treatment, there is no universally accepted surgical management strategy. The last comprehensive literature review of Tessier 30 clefts was in 1996. This report aims to update the literature to inform decision-making on treating Tessier 30 cases. Methodology: A literature search was performed. PubMed, SCOPUS, and OVID databases were searched. A total of 72 cases in 51 articles were analyzed, looking at demographics, extent of cleft, parent health, family history, procedures, follow-up, existence of other anomalies, and stages of repair. Results: Surgeons are increasingly choosing to repair Tessier 30 defects in one rather than multiple stages. Of the 72 cases studied, only 31 had documented the completed repair of the cleft. All completed soft tissue only defects were repaired in 1 stage of repair (n = 11). Where both soft tissue and mandible was involved (n = 20), 55% (n = 11) had undergone 1-stage repair to address the Tessier 30 cleft. Discussion: We argue that a single-stage approach is preferable to multistage. Primary mucogingivoperiosteoplasty should be undertaken in children at the time of management of the soft tissue cleft. The timing of this procedure should be in the latter half of the first year of life, as this is when mandibular symphyseal fusion normally occurs. We have suggested a treatment protocol and we hope that future case reports use our minimum data set.

Orofacial Cleft Frequency Differences Depending on Geographic Origin: Coast vs. Inland

Objective: Cleft lip and/or palate is the most common congenital anomaly in a human face, with a multifactorial and complex etiology. Although many studies have been developed, the role of the environment is still unclear. This study aims to test the hypothesis that differences in lifestyle and environment change the reproductive risks of orofacial clefts.Methods: A total of 2,422 medical records of individuals born with cleft lip and/or palate in a reference center in the northeast of Brazil over a period of 30 years were analyzed. Data on the cleft type, geographic origin of the patient (coast or inland), presence of associated congenital anomalies or syndromes, maternal age, and maternal parity were recorded. Differences in frequencies between the cleft types were compared based on geographic origin, maternal age, and parity. Chi-square, Student's t, Kruskal–Wallis, and logistic regression were used to analyze the interference of covariables on the cleft type.Results: The distribution of cleft types was significantly different between the coastal and inland areas (chi-square test, p < 0.0001). A higher frequency of cleft lip with or without palate was observed the inland area (chi-square test, p = 0.0006), while cleft palate only (chi-square test, p = 0.003) and rare facial clefts (chi-square test, p = 0.004) were more frequent in the coastal area. No difference was found in the distribution of maternal age (t-test, p > 0.05) between the two geographic areas, but parity was higher inland (t-test, p = 0.04). Logistic regression suggested that parity explained just a small portion of the differences in frequency between cleft types of the coast vs. inland.Conclusion: Frequency of orofacial cleft types differs by geographic area in this region of the South American continent.

The Place of Dentofacial Orthopaedics in the Treatment Planning of Facial Clefts: About Two Clinical Cases

Facial clefts are considered as predominant malformations of the oro-facial sphere due to their frequency, aesthetic and functional repercussions. The overall prevalence of cleft palates is estimated at 1 per 700 births in the general population, with 77% of isolated cases, 16% associated with another malformative pathology, and 7% associated with a known syndrome. They can disrupt soft tissues (upper lip, nasal threshold, nasal wing, palate veil), hard tissues (alveolar arch, dental germs, palate), or both.They constitute a congenital dysmorphosis for which the therapeutic management extends from birth to the end of adolescence. Orthodontic care has evolved considerably in recent years, mainly due to the synergy of the different specialities involved in the care of these children by the multidisciplinary team.These cleft lips and palates have a multifactorial and complex etiology requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Orthodontic treatment has a strategic place in this treatment and involves temporary, mixed, and permanent dentition.The aim of this article is to review the place of dentofacial orthopaedics in the therapeutic calendar of facial cleft management.