Comparison of the effect of supraperiosteal versus subperiosteal dissection on the growing rabbit maxilla

OBJECTIVE: To achieve closure of wide unilateral cleft lip repair without tension of the cleft lip margins, a large undermining, especially of the anterolateral surface of the maxilla, is needed. Two types of dissection are feasible: supraperiosteal or subperiosteal. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are differences in maxillary growth between healthy rabbits after supraperiosteal or subperiosteal dissection. METHODS: Twenty-four male 7-week-old New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into three groups: eight control animals (untreated); eight animals undergoing supraperiosteal dissection of the left surface of the maxilla, and eight animals undergoing subperiosteal dissection of the left surface of the maxilla. All of the treated animals were operated on by the same surgeon at age of 7 weeks and sacrificed at 27 weeks together with control group animals. Seven cephalometric measures (representing aspects of maxillary length, width, and height), on the left side, were taken on the cleaned skull of the rabbits, and the results were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: No significant differences in maxillary growth were noted across the three study groups. CONCLUSIONS: The supraperiosteal or subperiosteal undermining of the anterolateral surface of the maxilla does not seem to interfere with the growth of the normal maxilla in the rabbit.