Surgical results of secondary alveolar bone grafting

We reviewed cases of secondary alveolar bone grafting to analyze the short-term outcomes of surgery and to identify predictive factors. Materials and Methods; This retrospective study included 84 consecutive bone grafts for 76 patients performed at Tohoku University Hospital between October 1996 and March 2000. Six months after surgery, clinical findings and computed tomography were assessed and the outcomes were evaluated by the orthodontists of our cleft lip and palate team. A very simple classification of "good" either or "bad" was used to estimate the result of the bone grafting. The result was graded as "good" when the bone bridge was considered to have bone for dental support, and as "bad" when re-grafting was necessary. Biographic data of the patients and information about their postoperative course were also collected from clinical records. Results: "Good" results were obtained in 70 cases (83.3%). Postoperative local complications such as wound breakdown and infection were observed in 19 cases (22.6%) and 7 of these cases were subsequently evaluated as "bad". The occurrence of postoperative local complication was correlated with the surgical results. The mean age at the time of surgery was 7 years 8 months and the dental age ranged from IIa to IIIb. The "good" cases were significantly younger in chronological age than the "bad" cases. The young group (under 8 years old) had significantly better results compared to older group (over 8 years old). Sixty-seven patients (79.8%) have been treated in the Tohoku University program. There were no improvements in the cases undergoing our treatment protocol. Unilateral versus bilateral comparison revealed no significant differences. When compared according to the presence of cleft palate, the incidence of postoperative local complications was significantly higher and the result was significantly worse in cases with cleft palate.