Cleft type and sex differences in craniofacial growth in clefting from one month to ten years.

Craniofacial growth of 145 children born with a cleft was studied by analyzing the sex and cleft-type differences for 11 linear dimensions and three angular relationships as observed on lateral x-ray headfilms. The sample consisted of 58 children with complete unilateral cleft of lip and palate (UCLP), 29 children with complete bilateral cleft of lip and palate (BCLP), and 58 children with cleft of palate only (CPO). None of these children had any syndrome at the time of birth. The growth was studied for the first postnatal decade. The data were analyzed by stepwise discriminant analysis and univariate analysis of variance. The results show that differences in cranial base size are associated with sex and not with cleft type. Differences in cranial base angle are associated with cleft-type but in case of females only. Face heights do not differ across cleft types but they do differ across sexes when CPO is involved. Cleft type differences are observed for midfacial depths and basifacial angle but sex differences are observed only when CPO is involved. The mandibular dimensions do not differ with cleft type. Gonial angle shows sex differences for BCLP only. The body length also varies with sex when CPO is involved.