Deformation of the palate in preterm infants
a Department of Child Health, b Department of
Child Dental Health, University of Wales College of Medicine
Correspondence to: Dr Annie M Procter Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff. CF4 4XN.
Accepted 21 July 1997
AIM
To investigate the effect of gestation,
postmenstrual age, and orotracheal intubation on palate morphology.
METHODSA prospective study was made of 76 newborn
infants of 25 to 41 weeks' gestation. Palate dimensions were measured
on plaster models produced from serial palatal impressions. Palate size
relative to that of the mouth was assessed using a ratio of palate
depth to palate width (Palatal Index).
RESULTSPalate depth and width were related to
postmenstrual age and gestation. Palatal Index ranged from 0.15 to
0.57, indicating a wide variation in palate shape, but gestation and
postmenstrual age had no effect. Prolonged intubation had a small
effect, equivalent to an increase in palatal depth of less than 2 mm at
32 weeks' postmenstrual age. The effect was transient.
CONCLUSIONProlonged orotracheal intubation (>10
days) leads to a small and temporary increase in palatal depth.
However, this is unlikely to account for palatal grooving, which is
probably caused by an overgrowth of the lateral palatine ridges.
© 1998 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
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