Three-Dimensional Assessment of Early Surgical Outcome in Repaired Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: Part 1. Nasal Changes

Objective: To evaluate three-dimensional nasal morphology following primary reconstruction in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate relative to contemporaneous noncleft data. Design: Prospective, cross-sectional, controlled study. Setting: Glasgow Dental Hospital and School, Faculty of Medicine, Glasgow University. Patients and Participants: Two groups of 3-year-old children (21 with unilateral cleft lip and palate and 96 controls) with facial images taken using a three-dimensional, vision-based capture technique. Methods: Three-dimensional images of the face were reflected so the cleft was on the left side to create a homogeneous group for statistical analysis. Three-dimensional coordinates of anthropometric landmarks were extracted from facial images by a single operator. A set of linear measurements was used to compare cleft and control subjects on right and left sides, adjusting for sex differences. Results: The mean nasal base width and the width of the nostril floor on right and left sides differed significantly between control and unilateral cleft lip and palate groups. The measurements were greater in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate. The differences in the mean nasal height and mean nasal projection between the groups were not statistically significant. Mean columellar lengths were different between the left and right sides in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate. Conclusions: There were significant nasal deformities following the surgical repair of unilateral cleft lip and palate.