Three Dimensional Facial Growth Analysis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Three Dimensional Analysis of Maxillofacial Growth in Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate
IRAS ID
231096
Contact name
Peter Mossey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hull
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Cleft lip and palate is the most common facial birth defect affecting one in 700 babies, and frequently leads to problems in feeding, breathing, speech and/or hearing, and aesthetic problems often leading to social and psychological problems. Poor growth of the upper jaw affects nearly all patients with the condition, and can result in substantial misalignment of the teeth requiring corrective surgery and associated dental treatment in early adulthood.
Surprisingly there is little evidence to support the current practice of delaying surgery until early adulthood. It is apparently left until then because it is assumed this is when the skull and face have stopped growing, but there is little available information on that growth and when the different parts of the face and skull stop growing.
The goal of this study is to develop and test new computer-based methods to quantify skull growth and related soft-tissues changes. This pilot work will demonstrate whether it is possible to measure these developments and prepare the tools for a larger clinical study. That clinical study will determine the full nature and extent of bone growth and related soft-tissue changes during late adolescence, to identify if/when earlier surgery could be carried out to correct any deformity and minimise the associated social stigmas of the condition.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/YH/0102
Date of REC Opinion
17 May 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion