Nasolabial Appearance Research Articles

Comparison of Two Scoring Systems in the Assessment of Nasolabial Appearance in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients

The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of 2 scoring systems. This study used a retrospective analysis of the results of complete unilateral cleft lip and palate patients. The study was conducted at the VU Medical Center and the Academic Center for Dentistry of Amsterdam. Patients were complete unilateral cleft lip and palate patients at the age of 6 years. Assessment of the nose and lip together and separately with a numerical photographic reference scoring system and with a 5-point ordinal scale without the use of a reference photograph by 6 judges. Intraobserver and interobserver reliability was calculated; both ways of assessment were compared by using Kendall tau. Photographs were available of 55 children (6 years old, 38 boys and 17 girls) with a complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. The interobserver reliabilities of the lip and nose together were 0.53 and, for the nose and lip separately, 0.51 and 0.43, respectively with the use of the numerical scale. In the 5-point scale, these were 0.55 for the nose and lip together and 0.57 and 0.45 for the nose and lip separately, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that the lip dominates in the scorings of the lip and nose together (linear regression analysis). The 2 tested systems are equivalent in their reliability and outcome. The lip is dominating in the overall scorings. It is advocated to use the 5-point scale without the use of a reference photograph and to assess the lip and nose separately.

Nasolabial appearance after two palatoplasty types in cleft lip and palate

Facial appearance is important for normal psychosocial development in children with cleft lip and palate (CLP). There is conflicting evidence on how deficient maxillary growth may affect nasolabial esthetics. We retrospectively investigated nasolabial appearance in two groups, the Langenback (35 children; mean age 11.1 years; range: 7.9-13.6) and Vomerplasty (58 children; mean age 10.8 years; range: 7.8-14), who received unilateral CLP surgery by the same surgeon. The hard palate repair technique differed between the two groups. In the Langenback group, palatal bone on the non-cleft side only was left denuded, inducing scar formation and inhibiting maxillary growth. In the Vomerplasty group, a vomerplasty with tight closure of the soft tissues on the palate was applied. Thirteen lay judges rated nasolabial esthetics on photographs using a modified Asher-McDade's index. Nasolabial esthetics in both groups was comparable (p > 0.1 for each nasolabial component). Inferior view was judged as the least esthetic component and demonstrated mean scores 3.18 (SD = 0.63) and 3.13 (SD = 0.47) in the Langenback and Vomerplasty groups, respectively. Mean scores for other components were from 2.52 (SD = 0.63) to 2.81 (SD = 0.62). Regression analysis showed that vomerplasty is related with slight improvement in the nasal profile only (coefficient B = -0.287; p = 0.043; R(2 ) = 0.096). This study demonstrates that the use of vomerplasty instead of the Langenbeck technique is weakly associated with the nasolabial appearance among pre-adolescent patients with UCLP.

Factors Related to Quality of Life and Satisfaction with Nasal Appearance in Patients Treated for Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Objective : To identify factors related to quality of life (QoL) and satisfaction with nasal appearance among patients treated for unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). Design : Cross-sectional population study with long-term follow-up. Patients/Settings : All patients with UCLP born between 1960 and 1987, treated at Uppsala University Hospital, were invited (n = 109); 86 (79%) participated. Mean follow-up time was 35years. Main Outcome Measures : Quality of life was measured with Short Form-36 (SF-36) and analyzed using mental and physical cluster scores (MCS and PCS). Nasal appearance was self-assessed with the "Satisfaction With Appearance" questionnaire and by panel judgment. Multivariate regression analyses explored endogenous factors (age, gender, infancy cleft width, nasal function, nasolabial appearance) and exogenous factors (marital status, number of children, education level, operation method, number of rhinoplasties performed). Results : A larger cleft width in infancy was associated with less satisfaction with nasal appearance as adults. A lower mental health QoL was associated with less satisfaction with nasal appearance. Despite female gender being linked to less satisfaction with nasal appearance, it was associated with higher mental health QoL. Higher resistance during nasal breathing was associated with lower physical health QoL. Conclusions : Gender and infant cleft width may affect QoL and satisfaction with nasal appearance among adults. They are potential predictive factors for satisfaction with nasal appearance and QoL during adulthood. The correlation of nasal function impairment and decreased physical health QoL underlines the importance of treatment of nasal symptoms in these patients.

Nasolabial aesthetics correlates poorly with skeletal symmetry in unilateral cleft lip and palate

To evaluate the correlation between symmetry of the craniofacial skeleton and aesthetics of the nose and upper lip in children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (CUCLP). Craniofacial symmetry was evaluated on postero-anterior (PA) cephalograms of 54 children (37 boys and 17 girls; mean age=11.0years, SD1.6) with CUCLP repaired with a one-stage closure (Cleft group). Treated subjects were age- and gender-matched with 54 untreated subjects taken from the University of Michigan Growth Study (Control group). Fourteen coefficients of asymmetry (CAs) were calculated and four angles were measured. Four raters assessed the nasolabial appearance on cropped facial and profile photographs with the 5-grade aesthetic index of Asher-McDade (grade 1 means the most aesthetic and grade 5 the least aesthetical outcome) in the Cleft group only. Independent t-tests were used to evaluate the inter-group differences for CAs. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to examine a relationship between particular components of the aesthetical index and CAs. Multiple regression analyses were carried out to explain the nasolabial aesthetics on the basis of craniofacial symmetry. In the Cleft group, most cephalometric variables demonstrated asymmetry not exceeding 10%. The Cleft and Control groups differed regarding three angular measurements (Se, Ism, and ANS) and 1CA (Mo-V). Three of the four nasolabial components demonstrated correlation with some cephalometric variables. However, the correlation coefficients were low (range: -0.309 to 0.305). There is a weak correlation between craniofacial skeletal symmetry and aesthetics of the nose and upper lip in children with CUCLP.

Nasolabial symmetry and aesthetics in children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between nasolabial symmetry and aesthetics in children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (CUCLP). Frontal and basal photographs of 60 consecutively treated children with CUCLP (cleft group: 41 boys and 19 girls, mean (SD) age 11 (2) years) and 44 children without clefts (control group: 16 boys and 28 girls, mean (SD) age 11(2) years), were used for evaluation of nasolabial symmetry and aesthetics. Nasal and labial measurements were made to calculate the coefficient of asymmetry (CA). The 5-grade aesthetic index described by Asher-McDade et al. was used to evaluate nasolabial appearance. Correlation and regression analysis were used to identify an association between aesthetics and CA, sex, and the presence of CUCLP. Ten measurements in the cleft, and 2 in the control, group differed significantly between the cleft and non-cleft (or right and left) sides, respectively. The significantly higher values of 9 of 11 CA in the children with CUCLP indicated that they had more asymmetrical nasolabial areas than children without clefts. However, the regression analyses showed that only a few CA were associated with nasolabial aesthetics. In conclusion, nasolabial aesthetics and nasolabial symmetry seem to be only weakly associated in patients with CUCLP.

Nasolabial appearance in adults with repaired unilateral cleft lip and palate: Relation between professional and lay rating and patients' satisfaction

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the relation between professional and lay rating and patients' satisfaction with nasolabial appearance in adults with repaired unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). A cross-sectional population study, long-term follow-up with controls matched for age and sex was performed. All patients with complete UCLP born between 1960 and 1987 (n = 109), treated at Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden were invited and 83 (76%) agreed to participate. Follow-up was 20-47 years after primary lip surgery. An age- and sex-matched control group of 65 people were evaluated in the same way. Ratings from professional and lay panels of cropped photographs using a 5 point categorical scale for 4 features of the nasolabial appearance and the satisfaction with appearance questionnaire (SWA) for self-assessment were used. Professional and lay ratings correlated positively but the professionals consistently rated nasolabial appearance as better than did the lay panel (p < 0.001). Self-assessment of nasolabial appearance with the SWA (by patients and controls) did not correlate with the judgement of lay or professional panels. Judgement of nasolabial appearance in adults with repaired UCLP differs among professionals, lay people, and patients. This should be considered when deciding about secondary surgical treatment of signs of clefts.

Management of cleft lip and palate in adults

ABSTRACT Introduction: With advancement of medical services in developed countries and awareness among the patients, it is rare to find an adult with an unoperated cleft lip and palate. However, the scenario is totally different in developing countries. Working as a part of a team in developing country, where co-coordinated team work is primitive, resources to provide treatment are very thin, public awareness of availability of treatment for this anomaly is minimal, the age of patients reaching for primary treatment varies from few days to late forties. Though the aim and aspiration is to provide holistic multidisciplinary care, the priority is getting treatment for all cleft patients. In such situation, the management of cleft lip and palate demands changes of approach, techniques and philosophy. Aims and Objectives: The deformed anatomy especially the facial bones and dentition is described. Due to well established deformities, the approach for management is individualized. The procedures and modification of procedures has been described. Results and Outcome: The outcome of the primary repair is adults certainly have less than satisfactory outcome for obvious reasons. The expected outcome and expectation of patients and families following primary surgeries in cleft lip and palate has been discussed. Though all adult patients got some improvement in speech after palate repair, achieving normal speech was difficult. The naso-labial appearance was not perfect, but well accepted by the patients and families. There are many psychosocial problems in these patients, the objective evaluation could not be done due to too many variables. However, primary repair of cleft lip and palate is justified and beneficial for the patients.

Reference Photographs for Nasolabial Appearance Rating in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

A popular method for nasolabial rating in unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) is the Asher-McDade system consisting of a 5-point ordinal scale assessing nasal form, nasal symmetry, nasal profile, and vermilion border. The aim of the current study was to identify reference photographs illustrating this scale to facilitate its use.Four observers assessed nasolabial appearance on frontal and profile photographs of the nasolabial area of 42 children of Caucasian origin with a repaired UCLP at age 9 years. Cronbachs alpha, based on the individual scores of the 4 observers, ranged from 0.73 to 0.82 for the 4 nasolabial ratings, indicating a good reliability. The reliability of the overall score (mean of the 4 component scores) was also high (Cronbachs alpha, 0.83). Both for the nasolabial component ratings and for the overall score, duplicate measurement errors were small. The reliability for the mean of the 4 observers' scores was good, Spearman rank correlation coefficients ranging from 0.56 to 0.96.Subsequently, photographs were selected that showed the highest agreement among observers. For each of the 4 components (eg, nasal form, nasal deviation, nasal profile, and shape of the vermilion border), 5 photographs were selected to illustrate the whole range of the scale (score, 1-5), resulting in the selection of 20 pictures.It was concluded that nasolabial appearance rating can be performed reliably using a panel of judges and averaging the scores of all observers. Reference photographs, as developed from this study, may facilitate the rating task.

Nasolabial Esthetics in Children With Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate After 1- Versus 3-Stage Treatment Protocols

Facial esthetics play an important role in social interactions. However, children with a repaired complete unilateral cleft lip and palate usually show some disfigurement of the nasolabial area. To date, few studies have assessed the nasolabial appearance after different treatment protocols. The aim of the present study was to compare the nasolabial esthetics after 1- and 3-stage treatment protocols. Four components of the nasolabial appearance (nasal form, nasal deviation, mucocutaneous junction, and profile view) were assessed by 4 raters in 108 consecutively treated children who had undergone either 1-stage closure (Warsaw group, 41 boys and 19 girls, mean age 10.8 years, SD 2.0) or 3-stage (Nijmegen group, 30 boys and 18 girls, mean age 8.9 years, SD 0.7). A 5-grade esthetic index of Asher-McDade was used, in which grade 1 indicates the most esthetic and grade 5 the least esthetic outcome. The nasal form was judged the least esthetic in both groups and graded 3.1 (SD 1.1) and 3.2 (SD 1.1). The nasal deviation, mucocutaneous junction, and profile view were scored from 2.1 (SD 0.8) to 2.3 (SD 1.0) in both groups. The treatment outcome after the Warsaw and Nijmegen protocols was comparable. Neither overall nor any of the 4 components of the nasolabial appearance showed intercenter differences (P > .1). The nasolabial appearance after the Warsaw (1-stage) and Nijmegen (3-stage) protocols was comparable. The technique of lip repair (triangular flap in Warsaw and Millard rotation advancement in Nijmegen) gave comparable results for the esthetics of the nasolabial area.

Management of cleft lip and palate in adults

Introduction:With advancement of medical services in developed countries and awareness among the patients, it is rare to find an adult with an unoperated cleft lip and palate. However, the scenario is totally different in developing countries. Working as a part of a team in developing country, where co-coordinated team work is primitive, resources to provide treatment are very thin, public awareness of availability of treatment for this anomaly is minimal, the age of patients reaching for primary treatment varies from few days to late forties. Though the aim and aspiration is to provide holistic multidisciplinary care, the priority is getting treatment for all cleft patients. In such situation, the management of cleft lip and palate demands changes of approach, techniques and philosophy.Aims and Objectives:The deformed anatomy especially the facial bones and dentition is described. Due to well established deformities, the approach for management is individualized. The procedures and modification of procedures has been described.Results and Outcome:The outcome of the primary repair is adults certainly have less than satisfactory outcome for obvious reasons. The expected outcome and expectation of patients and families following primary surgeries in cleft lip and palate has been discussed. Though all adult patients got some improvement in speech after palate repair, achieving normal speech was difficult. The naso-labial appearance was not perfect, but well accepted by the patients and families. There are many psychosocial problems in these patients, the objective evaluation could not be done due to too many variables. However, primary repair of cleft lip and palate is justified and beneficial for the patients.

A new dimension for assessing the quality of surgical repair of cleft deformities

Objective: To evaluate 3D nasolabial morphology, relative to contemporaneous non-cleft data, following primary reconstruction of unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). Materials and methods: Prospective, cross-sectional, case-control study performed on two groups of children, 21 with surgically repaired UCLP and 73 controls were examined at 3 years using stereophotogrammetry. 3D co-ordinates of anthropometric landmarks were extracted from virtual reality modelling language images created by computerized stereophotogrammetry. To assess the reproducibility of landmarks digitization, a randomly selected 20 3D models were redigitized. Systematic and random errors were calculated according to Dahlbergh equation. Results: Landmarks digitization error was within 0.5 mm. Nasolabial appearance was improved following cleft repair but was significantly different from non-cleft children at the following areas: (1) asymmetry of the nose with display of the alar base on the affected side more laterally and inferiorly; (2) midface hypoplasia; (3) short upper lip on the cleft side; (4) asymmetry of the nostrils There was no statistical significant difference in columella width between the UCLP group and control group. Conclusions: 3D imaging is an emerging modality that is suitable for paediatric population. Geometric morphometrics is superior to traditional analysis of facial morphology. The soft tissue facial deformity in 3-year-old children with unilateral cleft lip and palate is closely related to the site of primary surgery.

Nasolabial appearance in unilateral cleft lip, alveolus and palate: A comparison with Eurocleft

To evaluate nasolabial appearance of patients with UCLAP treated in Nijmegen and to compare them with those from six other individual centers from the Eurocleft study. Relationships between nasolabial aesthetics, dental arch relationships and cleft width at birth were also investigated. Children of Caucasian origin with complete UCLAP (n=42 consecutive cases) from the Nijmegen Cleft Palate Unit, The Netherlands. Nasolabial appearance was assessed by applying an aesthetic index and subsequently compared with the six-centre Eurocleft study. Cleft width at birth was measured on maxillary plaster casts. The 90% central range for the overall aesthetic rating of the 42 Nijmegen patients is 2.0-3.7 on a scale from 1 to 5 (1=very good nasolabial appearance, 5=very poor nasolabial appearance). With regard to the overall aesthetic rating, Nijmegen showed similar treatment outcomes with Eurocleft centres A, D, E and F. Nijmegen scored significantly better than Eurocleft centre C and significantly worse than Eurocleft centre B (p<or=0.05). No significant correlations between aesthetic ratings, dental arch relationships and cleft width at birth could be established for the Nijmegen patients. Treatment protocol could not explain differences in treatment results. The current comparative study is supportive in the selection of patient records that are suitable for the "good practice archive" which is part of the EUROCRAN project.

The Eurocleft Study: Intercenter Study of Treatment Outcome in Patients with Complete Cleft Lip and Palate. Part 2: Craniofacial Form and Nasolabial Appearance

To compare craniofacial morphology and nasolabial appearance up to age 17 in individuals with repaired complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) treated at five European centers. Longitudinal cohort study. Multidisciplinary cleft services in Northern Europe. 127 consecutively treated individuals with repaired complete UCLP. Cephalometric variables, 14 angular and 2 ratio variables, and panel ratings of nasolabial appearance, 4 variables. The results revealed that at ages 12 and 17, two centers had a flatter profile (gs-sn-pgs) and retrognathic maxilla (sss-ns-sms). Additionally, one of the two centers had increased lower face height. Ratings of nasolabial appearance showed more similarity between the centers. The results confirm that systematic differences in craniofacial morphology and nasolabial appearance may occur between different cleft centers, but do not allow specific caused factors to be identified.

The Eurocleft Study: Intercenter Study of Treatment Outcome in Patients with Complete Cleft Lip and Palate. Part 5: Discussion and Conclusions

To review the lessons learned from a longitudinal intercenter comparison study. Longitudinal cohort study. Multidisciplinary cleft services in Northern Europe. Individuals with repaired complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. The first four papers in this series report amount of treatment, cephalometric form, nasolabial appearance, dental arch relationship, patient/parent satisfaction. This paper considers the consistency of outcome at the five centers over time, and other relationships between outcomes. Some outcomes measured in childhood can be predictive over time. The amount of treatment does not correlate with the quality of clinical outcome. Measurement of clinical outcome in childhood is an important and valid form of clinical audit. Intercenter studies are more informative than single center reports, and will have an important future role in cleft care.

Repair of Bilateral Cleft Lip: Review, Revisions, and Reflections

Rarely does the appearance of a child with a repaired bilateral cleft lip compare favorably with that of a child with a repaired unilateral cleft lip. However, there has been a major change in operative strategy during the past decade, and as a result, the typical bilateral cleft nasolabial stigmata are no longer so obvious. The senior author restates the principles for correction of bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity, and underscores the essential role of preoperative premaxillary positioning. He reviews his method of single-stage closure of the cleft primary palate, including three-dimensional adjustments based on predicted four-dimensional changes. Operative modifications are described for variations of bilateral cleft lip. The authors emphasize the surgeon's obligation for periodic assessment. In a consecutive series of 50 patients with repaired bilateral complete cleft lip/palate, the revision-rate was 33% as compared with 12.5% if the secondary palate is intact. No revisions were necessary for philtral size or columellar length. The authors propose that nasolabial appearance and speech are the priorities in habilitation of the child with bilateral cleft lip/palate rather than the traditional emphasis on maxillary growth.

A Six-Center International Study of Treatment Outcome in Patients with Clefts of the Lip and Palate: Part 4. Assessment of Nasolabial Appearance

One hundred and fifteen frontal and profile photographs of the nasolabial area of subjects with complete unilateral clefts of the lip and palate from six European centers were assessed. Four components of the nasolabial area were rated separately by a panel of judges using a five-point scale of attractiveness. The Tukey multiple comparison test showed significant differences between the centers. The relative position of the six centers in this study followed a similar pattern to their respective positions in the cephalometric and dental cast studies.

A Six-Center International Study of Treatment Outcome in Patients with Clefts of the Lip and Palate: Part 1. Principles and Study Design

This article describes the design of an intercenter comparative study of treatment outcome in the treatment of children with a unilateral complete cleft of the lip and palate. The rationale and aims of this study are defined and treatment schemes of the participating centers are described. The findings are presented in a series of three papers (Parts 2, 3, and 4) dealing with the comparison of craniofacial form, dental arch relationships, and nasolabial appearance. In Part 5, conclusions and general recommendations regarding future research are discussed.

Development of a Method for Rating Nasolabial Appearance in Patients with Clefts of the Lip and Palate

Comparison of the outcome of treatment of patients with clefts of the lip and palate can yield valuable pointers for discriminating between beneficial and harmful procedures. The development of a standardized rating scheme to assess the facial appearance of these patients is described. The rating scheme can be used in conjunction with conventional cephalometric analysis and dental arch evaluation. A method is described in which the nasolabial area is masked, thus reducing the influence of the surrounding facial features since it is shown that judges are influenced by general facial attractiveness. An ordinal scale has been evaluated in which four features of the nose and lip are assessed separately and in total by a panel of judges. The nasolabial profile, the nasal symmetry, the nasal form, and vermilion border were assessed using a 5-point scale. Acceptable pooled levels of reliability and reproducibility were obtained. This standardized rating system may be used to differentiate treatment outcome in patients from different treatment centers.

Development of a Method for Rating Nasolabial Appearance in Patients with Clefts of the Lip and Palate

Comparison of the outcome of treatment of patients with clefts of the lip and palate can yield valuable pointers for discriminating between beneficial and harmful procedures. The development of a standardized rating scheme to assess the facial appearance of these patients is described. The rating scheme can be used in conjunction with conventional cephalometric analysis and dental arch evaluation. A method is described in which the nasolabial area is masked, thus reducing the influence of the surrounding facial features since it is shown that judges are influenced by general facial attractiveness. An ordinal scale has been evaluated in which four features of the nose and lip are assessed separately and in total by a panel of judges. The nasolabial profile, the nasal symmetry, the nasal form, and vermilion border were assessed using a 5-point scale. Acceptable pooled levels of reliability and reproducibility were obtained. This standardized rating system may be used to differentiate treatment outcome in patients from different treatment centers.