Use of the modifi ed Latham appliance prior to cheiloplasty

Abstract

Pre-surgical orthopedics is a treatment that modifi es the position of fi ssured maxillary segments. In children with Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate (BCLP); the collapse of the maxillary segments and protrusion of the premaxilla imply that during the surgical procedure there may be an excessive tension and make cheilopasty diffi cult. A modification of the Latham’s Device (MLD) was performed to correct the position of the premaxilla and the palatal processes. The study was conducted with photographs and dental casts of 14 BCLP patients, 0 to 12 months old with a protruding premaxilla of more than10 mm. On a lateral view, the average reduction was 19.75 mm; in an occlusal view, the left side was reduced 15.15 mm and on the right side 13.87 mm. A signifi cant protrusion decrease was achieved.Key words: Pre-surgical orthopedics, modifi ed Latham appliance, bilateral cleft lip and palate.