Stability of the Le Fort I osteotomy in patients with cleft lip and palate.

Relapse of the maxilla was studied retrospectively in a group of 61 patients with previously repaired cleft lip and palate who had undergone Le Fort I osteotomy. The extent of surgical move and relapse over a mean period of 28 months was measured with reference to the cranial base, and found to be similar to those in other studies. The use of direct bone plates for fixation of the maxilla is associated with a significantly more stable postoperative result.