Castillo Morales Appliance Therapy in the treatment of drooling children.

[OBJECTIVE] To evaluate the efficacy of Castillo Morales Appliance Therapy (CMAT) in reducing the severity and frequency of problematic drooling in children.

[METHODS] A de-identified extraction of all hospital morbidity records belonging to patients with drooling who underwent treatment with CMAT was performed between June 22, 2000 and April 12, 2016. Data were obtained from Starship Children's Hospital clinical records department. Demographic, diagnostic, and procedural data were included. Severity and frequency of drooling was quantified using the Thomas-Stonell and Greenberg classification method.

[RESULTS] There were fifty-three children less than 17 years of age who were treated with CMAT for the indication of problematic drooling between June 22, 2000 and April 12, 2016. 72% (n = 38) of patients had a reduction in the severity and frequency of drooling with CMAT. Mean follow up was 51 months. These patients did not require further treatment for drooling with botulinum toxin or surgery. Within this group, 63% (n = 24) of patients had significant improvement in drooling as per the Thomas-Stonell and Greenberg classification method (p = 0.024).

[CONCLUSIONS] Children who underwent CMAT for drooling were less likely to require further treatment with botulinum toxin or surgery. This result suggests that the use of CMAT in children with problematic drooling confers benefit.