Korbmacher Heike, Limbrock Johannes, Kahl-Nieke Bärbel
Department of Orthodontics, University of Hamburg, Germany.
J Orofac Orthop. 2004 Jan;65(1):60-73. doi: 10.1007/s00056-004-0229-y.
Orofacial regulation therapy for children with Down's syndrome was introduced to Europe in Munich in 1978. Since then, many clinical studies have provided scientific evidence that this therapeutic approach enhances the orofacial function and facial appearance of children with trisomy 21. Only few long-term results have been published to date.
In the present study, 20 children with trisomy 21 were examined more than 12 years after starting treatment in infancy with a Castillo Morales stimulating plate. The follow-up examination showed that the improved orofacial appearance resulting from the early treatment had remained stable in most cases. Although the mechanical stimulus of the stimulating plate was absent during the follow-up period, some patients revealed a lip and tongue posture superior to that recorded at baseline.
According to the results of the present study, the orofacial status in early childhood is decisive for the subsequent development of the orofacial region and the long-term stability of the achieved improvements: Children with a pronounced orofacial dysfunction showed a greater stimulation-plate-induced improvement than those with initially moderate orofacial findings. This observation was confirmed by the findings of the 12-year follow-up: Children with Down's syndrome and initially slight orofacial impairment displayed only slight improvements or unchanged findings.
1978年，针对唐氏综合征患儿的口面部调节疗法在慕尼黑被引入欧洲。从那时起，许多临床研究提供了科学证据，表明这种治疗方法可改善21三体综合征患儿的口面部功能和面部外观。迄今为止，仅有少数长期研究结果得以发表。
在本研究中，对20名在婴儿期开始使用卡斯蒂略·莫拉莱斯刺激板治疗12年以上的21三体综合征患儿进行了检查。随访检查显示，早期治疗带来的口面部外观改善在大多数情况下保持稳定。尽管在随访期间刺激板的机械刺激已不存在，但部分患者的唇舌姿势仍优于基线记录水平。
根据本研究结果，儿童早期的口面部状况对于口面部区域的后续发育以及所取得改善的长期稳定性起决定性作用：口面部功能严重障碍的患儿比最初口面部表现中度的患儿在刺激板治疗后改善更大。这一观察结果在12年随访中得到证实：唐氏综合征且最初口面部损伤较轻的患儿仅表现出轻微改善或无变化。
