Difference in nasolabial features between awake and asleep infants with bilateral cleft lip: Anthropometric measurements using three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry

Abstract

Facial soft tissue anthropometric values change according to a patient’s body position. We compared the facial soft tissue shape between the upright and the supine operative positions in infants with bilateral cleft lip. Twenty-five infants with bilateral cleft lip were photographed in two different positions. Twenty-three anthropometric landmarks were selected and used for the analysis. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for comparing the obtained values. Lip width was significantly broader (3.0 mm in average, p < 0.01) in the supine operative position, whereas no significant differences were found in both lip length and height between the two positions. The cleft width was significantly broader (1.18 mm, p < 0.05) after setting the operative position. No significant changes were observed for the nose elements. The lip and the cleft width became broader, while the nose elements did not change after setting the operative position. We believe these changes are due to the effects of both gravity and the relaxation of the musculature under general anesthesia. This data could be useful in providing more complete information for surgeons planning bilateral cleft lip treatment. Level of Evidence: Level IV, diagnostic study.