Presurgical infant Orthopedics: A developmental and clinical evolution

Abstract

The cleft lip and palate (CLP) anomaly involves treatment right from birth till adulthood. A lot of treatment modalities are also time and age sensitive, that if not performed at the correct time, the results are sub-optimal or compromised. One such treatment modality is Presurgical Infant Orthopaedics (PSIO) which is among the first corrective and therapeutic procedures performed in the infants with CLP anomaly. The role of an orthodontist is pivotal in guiding the two cleft segments into a relatively normal position before the surgical repair is performed. Over the course of history, this procedure has seen many modifications, arguments over its utility, and counter arguments of the potential harms. The present articles shed light over the initial inception of the procedure, its development and improvement, long-term changes seen in the patients treated with PSIO technique, and finally the latest advancements in technique.