Does Presurgical Taping Change Nose and Lip Aesthetics in Infants with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to assess the effectiveness of taping alone in changing nose and lip aesthetics in infants with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate before and after surgical lip repair. Methods: The study design was a prospective, balanced, randomized, parallel-group, single-blinded, controlled trial. All the steps were carried out in the Department of Orthodontics of Cairo University in Egypt. Thirty-one infants with nonsyndromic unilateral complete cleft lip and palate were randomly assigned to either no treatment (control) or taping groups. In the taping group, all infants received horizontal tape between the two labial segments, aiming to decrease the cleft gap. No other interventions were performed in this group. Standardized photographs and videos were taken of the infants in both groups at the beginning of the treatment (T1), directly before surgical lip repair (T2), and 2 weeks after surgical lip repair (T3). Photographs and shots from videos were calibrated and used for outcome assessment. Blinded assessors carried out all the measurements digitally on the standardized photographs at T1, T2, and T3 using computer software. Results: Significant changes in all the measurements were recorded in the taping group at T2 before surgical lip repair in comparison with the control group. At T3, no differences were found between the two groups. Conclusions: Taping is a successful intervention in changing nose and lip aesthetics before surgical lip repair. After surgical lip repair, both groups had matching aesthetics.