The comparison of psychological adjustment of patients with cleft lip and palate after maxillary distraction osteogenesis and conventional orthognathic surgery

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the psychological changes of patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) undergoing maxillary Le Fort I advancement by distraction osteogenesis (DO) and conventional orthognathic surgery (CO). Study design: Prospective randomized controlled study. Participants completed a set of questionnaires to measure their psychological states preoperatively and postoperatively. Result: When compared with CO, CLP patients treated with DO had lower social self-esteem and higher social avoidance and distress levels during the first 3 postoperative months. Their self-esteem, social avoidance, and distress levels improved after the distractors were removed. Both CO and DO patients had similar levels of self-esteem, social avoidance, and distress levels 2 years postoperatively. The CLP patients treated with DO were more satisfied with their lives after 2 years. Conclusions: DO may induce short-term distress to patients up to 3 months but CLP patients who received DO were more satisfied with their lives in the long term. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.