OBJECTIVETo evaluate the sulcus depth changes of bilateral alveolar clefts after bone grafting with different techniques.

METHODSForty-two patients with bilateral alveolar clefts were treated in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, including three bilateral alveolar clefts with bilateral cleft lips and thirty-nine bilateral alveolar clefts with bilateral complete cleft lip and cleft palate. Three techniques were used to repair the bilateral alveolar clefts, named: bucket-handle mucosal flap, bilateral buccal mucosal flaps and bilateral buccal mucosal flaps with premaxillary separation and bone grafting. Postoperatively, the depth of the sulcus was evaluated with the following four grades: 0) no change, I) one-third shallow, II) two-thirds shallow, III) disappear.

RESULTSForty-two bilateral alveolar clefts were repaired with the above mentioned techniques with the results: Grade 0 in 20 patients (47.6%), grade I in 10 patients (23.8%), grade II in 10 patients (23.8%), grade III in 2 patients (4.7%). In 6 patients with the bucket-handle mucosal flap technique and the technique of the bilateral buccal mucosal flaps with the premaxillary bone graft, the depth of the sulcus was reduced to two-thirds in 4 patients (66.7%), and the sulcus totally disappeared in 2 patients (33.3%).

CONCLUSIONSThe above mentioned techniques could reduce the depth of the sulcus, therefore, the surgeons should notice this complication and prevent it during the operation.