A Comparative Study Between Corticocancellous Bone Graft With Biodegradable Plate Fixation and Without Fixation in Secondary Alveolar Cleft Repair

Fixation of the graft during the healing period is essential for gradual bone formation in cleft lip and palate patients, and biodegradable plates and screws are increasingly utilized in maxillofacial procedures due to their benefit in eliminating the need for removal and minimizing growth interference. The main objectives of the study were to evaluate and compare the corticocancellous bone graft with and without biodegradable plate fixation, and to detect complications clinically and radiographically. The study was conducted at the Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Al-Salam Teaching Hospital in Mosul, Nineveh governorate. Twenty patients were included in this study, half of whom were receiving biodegradable fixation while the other half were receiving no fixation. Patients were assessed both clinically and radiographically before the operation and followed up at 3 and 6 months. Key variables, including age, sex, defect density, Bergland scale, and pyriform level, were recorded. Bone density after the 6-month follow-up there was a significant relation with a P-value of 0.045 in comparison to the control group. The Bergland classification showed that the study group had a higher prevalence of grades I and II compared with the control group, with no grade IV patients in either group. No significant relation was found between either group regarding the pyriform levels. The only complication observed in the patients was protrusion of small fixation material pieces out of the gingiva. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that biodegradable fixation provides the benefits of fixation, such as enhanced bone density, without any major complications.