Movement of the cleft maxilla in infants relative to the frontal bone. A roentgen stereophotogrammetric study with the aid of metallic implants.

Four implants (tantalum balls 0.5 mm in diameter) were inserted in the frontal bone, and three implants (tantalum pins 1.5 x 0.5 mm) were inserted in each lateral segment of the cleft maxilla of ten infants aged 13 to 42 months. Motion of the maxillary segments was studied relative to the frontal bone by means of roentgen stereophotogrammetry during observation periods from 371 to 868 days. The results were presented by means of computer drawings of the implant triangles projected on the three cardinal planes. With this technique, movement of the maxillary segments could be visualized with a high degree of accuracy. No pattern of movement related to time or type of surgery, to type of cleft (UCLP/BCLP), or to cleft or non-cleft segment could be found.