Cleft palate in Pierre Robin syndrome: A Review of 7 cases

Abstract

Introduction

Pierre Robin syndrome is a malformative sequence associating retrognathism, glossoptosis and a median cleft palate which is usually large. This poses the problem of its therapeutic management.

Purpose

To show the approach of the Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the Mohammed VI University Hospital in the management of cleft palate in Pierre Robin syndrome.

This was a retrospective study, covering 5 years, which allowed us to include 7 cases of cleft palate in Pierre Robin syndrome. Our study parameters were epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary.

Results

The average age of our patients, at the time of the 1st consultation, was 4 months. There was a slight male predominance with a sex ratio = 1.3. The patients presented a U-shaped cleft in 57.1% of cases, and a V-shaped cleft in 42.9% of cases. Three patients underwent a one-stage closure by velopalatoplasty using the Von Langenbeck technique. Four patients underwent a 2-stage closure, i.e., intravascular veloplasty in the first stage, followed by closure of the residual cleft palate in the second stage. The results were satisfactory. A palatal fistula was noted in 42.8% of cases, which was managed secondarily.

Conclusion

The management of cleft palate in Pierre Robin syndrome is a real challenge for the maxillofacial surgeon.