FACIAL SENSIBILITY IN ADOLESCENTS WITH AND WITHOUT CLEFTS 1 YEAR AFTER UNDERGOING LE-FORT-I OSTEOTOMY

Static two-point discrimination, pressure, and vibratory threshold values were measured at standard coordinates in the area corresponding to the infraorbital nerve distribution in 59 adolescents 1 year after undergoing LeFort I osteotomy. The patients were divided into three groups: those born with unilateral cleft lip and palate (n = 30; mean age, 18 years; SD = 2); those with bilateral cleft lip and palate (n = 12; mean age, 19 years; SD = 3); and those without a cleft (n = 17; mean age, 19 years; SD = 3). One year after the osteotomy, none of the patients complained of altered sensibility in the maxillary vestibular mucosa, gingiva, or upper lip and cheek regions. No significant differences were found between the mean postoperative sensibility values of patients with and without clefts, indicating that the presence of clefting did not affect sensory recovery. Mean postoperative static two-point discrimination values were higher than preoperative values in all areas tested and in all patient groups. These results suggest that the sensory recovery, although incomplete, was strong enough to mask any subjective feelings of changes in sensory function.