Cost Effectiveness in Alveolar Bone Grafting in Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate

All patients will undergo a standard procedure for exposure of the cleft alveolar defect and closure of all oronasal fistulae. After induction of general anesthesia, the patient will be intubated with an oral ray tube and prepped and draped in sterile fashion. Pre-operative antibiotics will be given to cover oral flora (i.e. Unasyn or clindamycin if penicillin allergy exists). The intra-oral space will be exposed and the nasal floor and palatal mucosa will be primarily closed to create a water-tight space for the graft. The integrity of the nasal floor mucosa will be tested using methylene blue dye. Following closure of the fistula, the alveolar bone graft will be performed. For the treatment group, 10cc of crushed DBM will be mixed with the micro-sized sponge of rh-BMP-2 (Infuse Bone Graft, Medronic, Minneapolis, MN). The sponge and DBM will then be packed into the defect to completely fill the bony space (FIGURE 3). The anterior mucosa will then be closed.

The patient will be induced with anesthesia, prepped, and draped. The intra-oral space will be exposed and the nasal floor and palatal mucosa will be primarily closed to create a water-tight space for the graft. The integrity of the nasal floor mucosa will be tested using methylene blue dye. Following closure of the fistula, the alveolar bone graft will be performed.In the control group, the ICBG will be harvested percutaneously using the Accumed bone graft harvesting system. Briefly, an incision will be made in iliac crest and drill bit inserted. Multiple passes of the drill be used to harvest as much autograft bone as possible from the cancellous region of the iliac crest.Following harvest, fibrin glue will be instilled for hemostasis and a Ropivicaine On-Q pain pump inserted for post-operative pain control. The harvest bone graft will be packed into the alveolar defect in a similar fashion and the mucosa closed anteriorly.