Noncleft Side Research Articles

Results of Lip Adhesion in Wide Unilateral Complete Cleft Lip Patients.

Long-term follow-up results of many surgical techniques for lip adhesion are unavailable. Thus, we report the surgical results of patients who underwent lip adhesions performed by a single surgeon. We retrospectively analyzed two-dimensional photographs of 29 patients aged 1 year who underwent lip adhesion and definite lip repair. Among these patients, we analyzed the photographs of 20 patients aged 6 years who underwent secondary rhinoplasty. The ratio of the cleft side length to the noncleft side length was calculated. Only the upper lip length in the photographs of 1-year-olds was measured; both the upper lip and nose lengths were measured in the photographs of 6-year-olds. Lip width, vermilion height, and medial lip height on the cleft and non-cleft sides of 1-year-olds were not significantly different; the alar base width ratio was 1.17 ± 0.15, and the lateral lip height ratio was 0.91 ± 0.09 (P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in lip width and vermilion height between the cleft and non-cleft sides of the upper lip of 6-year-olds; the alar base width ratio was 1.22 ± 0.16, medial lip height ratio was 1.11 ± 0.11, and lateral lip height ratio was 0.89 ± 0.09 (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the alar projection and nasal dome height on the cleft side of the nose; the nostril height and width ratios were 0.82 ± 0.11 and 1.31 ± 0.21 (P < 0.001), respectively. These consecutively performed lip adhesions for patients with wide unilateral complete cleft lip resulted in excellent long-term results. Therefore, lip adhesion for wide unilateral complete cleft lip is a reasonable alternative to presurgical molding.

Final Posttreatment Occlusion in Patients With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate.

Objective:To evaluate final posttreatment occlusion in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (cUCLP) by comparing (1) 3 treatment centers, (2) males and females, (3) cleft and noncleft sides, (4) right- and left-sided clefts, and (5) orthodontic treatment with/without orthognathic surgery (OS).Design:Retrospective cohort study.Patients:Blinded posttreatment dental casts of 56 patients (19.4 ± 1.4 years) with cUCLP from 3 centers in Switzerland.Main Outcome Measure:Occlusal assessment using the modified Huddart/Bodenham (MHB) index.Results:Our sample comprised 35 males and 21 females, 46 with left- and 10 with right-sided clefts, of which 32 had undergone OS. The final posttreatment occlusion showed a median MHB score of 0 (interquartile range: −1.0 to 2.0) in the total sample and did not seem to depend on treatment center, sex, or OS. The MHB scores for the anterior buccal and the buccal segments were more negative on the cleft than on the noncleft side (P = .002 and P = .006, respectively). When the cleft was on the left side, the MHB score tended to be more positive in the labial (P = .046) and anterior buccal segments (P = .034).Conclusions:This study shows a very satisfactory final posttreatment occlusion in patients with cUCLP. The more constricted buccal occlusion on the cleft side emphasizes the attention that should be given in correcting the more medially positioned lesser maxillary segment. The influence of cleft-sidedness should be analyzed further on a sample including more patients with right-sided clefts.

Evaluation of frontal and axial morphology in repaired unilateral cleft lip and palate patients

Aim: To evaluate the extent of maxillary arch collapse on cleft vis-a-vis non-cleft side in the same individual presenting with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Material and methods: 22 children with surgically repaired UCLP who met the inclusion criteria were selected. Following the acquisition of CBCT scans, 14 bilateral landmarks were selected. The distance of the bilateral landmark was calculated from the midsagittal plane on the cleft and non-cleft side for both frontal and axial view. Tracings were done, data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis. Results: In the axial view, zygomatic arch, malar and porion were non-significant but the alveolar crest at the premolar region (p

Millard's rotation advancement technique for unilateral cleft lip repair

The unilateral cleft lip deformity includes defects of the lip and also the associated deformities in the nose. The Millard's rotation advancement technique is a versatile one for the repair of these deformities. The principle of the technique is that the raised Cupid's bow point medial to the cleft is brought down level with its noncleft side counterpart by a rotation incision, which extends to the base of the columella and ends with a back cut. The resulting defect beneath the base of the columella is filled with an advancement flap from the cleft side. The advantages of the techniques are many. The most significant one is that it adheres to the basic principles of esthetic surgery, with the main scars being along the relaxed skin tension lines. It is a versatile technique producing optimal results in all types in unilateral cleft lip patients ranging from the microform to the widest of complete clefts. The incision in this technique is so placed that there is easy access to address the associated defects of the nose. Technical refinements have been added to the classical description of the procedure to address the deficiencies in the repair. We describe important refinements introduced at our center by Dr. H. S. Adenwalla. Universally, this technique is still the most popular.

Stress Distribution and Displacement of Craniofacial Structures Following Rapid Maxillary Expansion in Different Types of Cleft Palate: A Three-Dimensional FEM Study.

To evaluate displacements and stress distributions in finite element models (FEMs) of the craniofacial complex of 13-yearold male patient with complete unilateral cleft palate (UCP), a 15-year-old female patient with complete bilateral cleft palate (BCP), and a 15-year-old female patient with isolated cleft palate (ICP), which may respond differently to expansive forces. The FEMs were based on computed tomography scans of patients with UCP, BCP, and ICP who needed maxillary expansion. Von Mises stress distribution after 0.2 mm of expansion and displacements after 5 mm of expansion were investigated. The highest amount of stress was observed in the ICP model. Surprisingly, no stress was noted around the nose in the BCP model. The amount of dentoalveolar expansion decreased from anterior to posterior on the cleft side of the UCP, BCP, and ICP models. In contrast, on the non-cleft side of the UCP model, the maximum dentoalveolar expansion occurred at the molar area, decreasing toward the anterior parts. Anatomical structures expressed posterior displacement in the UCP model. In the ICP model, structures close to midline showed anterior displacement, while structures in the lateral parts showed posterior displacement. In contrast with the other 2 models, the structures in the BCP model showed anterior displacement. Vertically, all the anatomic structures in the BCP model showed inferior displacement, while in the ICP and UCP models, only the structures close to the midline showed inferior displacement. Maxillary expansion caused different patterns of stress distribution and displacement in different types of clefts. Clinicians should consider the type of the cleft, and may expect differing patterns of widening following maxillary expansion.

A systematic analysis of surgical interventions for the airway in the mature unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity: a single case study.

Individuals with unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity (uCLND) often require rhinoplasty in adolescence to correct nasal obstruction. The intent of this study is to identify sites of greatest nasal obstruction and evaluate the effects of isolated and combinations of simulated surgical procedures on these sites using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Computed tomography imaging of an adolescent subject with uCLND was converted to an anatomically accurate three-dimensional nasal airway model. Initial analysis was performed to identify anatomic sites of obstruction based on CFD computed resistance values. Virtual surgery procedures corresponding to common uCLND surgical interventions were simulated. Resulting airspace models were then analyzed after conducting airflow and heat transfer simulations. The preoperative model had 21 obstructed sites with a nasal resistance of 0.075Pas/mL. Following simulated surgical procedures with functional interventions alone and in combinations, the three virtual surgery models with most improved nasal airflow were inferior turbinate reduction (ITR) with posterior septoplasty (resistance = 0.054Pas/ml, reduction in 14 of 21 obstructed sites), ITR with anterior septoplasty (resistance = 0.058Pas/ml, reduction in 8 of 21 obstructed sites), and ITR with both anterior and posterior septoplasty (resistance = 0.052Pas/ml, reduction in 17 of 21 obstructed sites). This study introduces a new technique for analysis of the impact of different simulated surgical interventions on uCLND-induced nasal obstruction. In this subject, simulated septoplasty with ITR on the non-cleft side provided maximal relief of nasal obstruction. The proposed technique can be further studied for possible utility in analyzing potential surgical interventions for optimal relief of nasal obstruction in patients with uCLND.

Analysis of nasal air conditioning in subjects with unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity

This study evaluated the impact of unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity (uCLND) on the ability of the nasal passages to warm and humidify inspired environmental air using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. Nasal air conditioning was simulated at resting inspiration in ten individuals with uCLND and seven individuals with normal anatomy. The overall heat and water transfer through nasal mucosa was significantly greater (p = 0.02 for both heat and moisture fluxes) on the non-cleft side than on the cleft side. Unilateral median and interquartile range (IQR) for heat flux (W/m2) was 190.3 (IQR 59.9) on the non-cleft side, 160.9 (IQR 105.0) on the cleft side, and 170.7 (IQR 87.8) for normal subjects. For moisture flux (mg/(s·m2), they were 357.4 (IQR 112.9), 298.7 (IQR 200.3) and 320.8 (IQR 173.0), respectively. Significant differences of SAHF50 between cleft side of uCLND and normal existed except for anterior region. Nevertheless, air conditioning ability in subjects with uCLND was generally comparable to that of normal subjects.

Outcome of Using Medical Grade Calcium Sulfate Hemihydrate (DentoGen) in Unilateral Alveolar Cleft Repair

Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of fast setting (DentoGen) bonesubstitute for secondary alveolar cleft repair.Materials and Methods: Ten patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate were included for alveolarcleft repair with fast setting (DentoGen) without autogenous bone graft in 2017 and 2018. Pre-operation and6 months post-operation CBCT were used for measurement of bone density and bone volume in cleft site.The data was analyzed by using Pearson’s correlation coefficient test and paired sample t-test via SPSSsoftware version 24.Results: The mean age of patients in this study was 10.4±2.657 years. The pre-operative mean alveolar cleftvolume was 0.8996±0.117cm3. Six months after grafting with fast setting (DentoGen) graft, satisfactorybone formation was observed in all patients except two patients. The mean bone density of cleft site was303±42.843 HU which was significantly lower than the non-cleft side, and the mean percentage of new boneformation was 64.74±10.290% compared with original cleft volume.Conclusion: Calcium sulfate hemihydrate (DentoGen) can represent a promising alternative to autogenousbone graft in repairing small unilateral alveolar cleft during mixed dentition.

Impairment in facial expression generation in patients with repaired unilateral cleft lip: Effects of the physical properties of facial soft tissues.

Patients with repaired unilateral cleft lip with palate (UCLP) often show dysmorphology and distorted facial motion clinically, which can cause psychological issues. However, no report has clarified the details concerning distorted facial motion and the corresponding possible causative factors. In this study, we hypothesized that the physical properties of the scar and surrounding facial soft tissue might affect facial displacement while smiling in patients with UCLP (Cleft group). We thus examined the three-dimensional (3D) facial displacement while smiling in the Cleft and Control groups in order to determine whether or not the physical properties of facial soft tissues differ between the Cleft and Control groups and to examine the relationship between the physical properties of facial soft tissues on 3D facial displacement while smiling. Three-dimensional images at rest and while smiling as well as the facial physical properties (e.g. viscoelasticity) of both groups were recorded. Differences in terms of physical properties and facial displacement while smiling between the two groups were examined. To examine the relationship between facial surface displacement while smiling and physical properties, a canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was conducted. As a result, three typical abnormal features of smiling in the Cleft group compared with the Control group were noted: less upward and backward displacement on the scar area, downward movement of the lower lip, and a greater asymmetric displacement, including greater lateral displacement of the subalar on the cleft side while smiling and greater alar backward displacement on the non-cleft side. The Cleft group also showed greater elastic modulus at the upper lip on the cleft side, suggesting hardened soft tissue at the scar. The CCA showed that this hard scar significantly affected facial displacement, inducing less upward and backward displacement on the scar area and downward movement of the lower lip in patients with UCLP (correlation coefficient = 0.82, p = 0.04); however, there was no significant relationship between greater nasal alar lateral movement and physical properties of the skin at the scar. Based on these results, personalizing treatment options for dysfunction in facial expression generation may require quantification of the 3D facial morphology and physical properties of facial soft tissues.

Beware of Optical Illusion of the Alar Base in Unilateral Cleft Lip Nasal Deformity.

Background:It is generally accepted that the alar base on the cleft side in the cleft lip nose is displaced outward and downward; therefore, it is rotated inward and upward in almost all procedures for cleft lip closure. However, nostril narrowing and collapse of the lower lateral cartilage on the cleft side are sometimes experienced. In this retrospective study, we investigated whether the preoperative alar base on the cleft side is displaced outward and downward.Methods:This was a retrospective evaluation using preoperative frontal images obtained from patients with unilateral cleft lip (n = 245). The midcolumellar and subalare points were placed, and each ratio was analyzed and compared to those of age-matched controls (n = 40).Results:The subalare on the noncleft side and subnasale were displaced upward and outward. In contrast, the subalare on the cleft side was displaced downward and inward. The displacement of the subalare was greater on the noncleft than on the cleft side. There were no significant differences between male and female patients and between the left and right sides. Among the complete cleft lip and palate, incomplete cleft lip and palate, complete cleft lip and alveolus, incomplete cleft lip and alveolus, and microform cleft lip groups, the complete cleft lip and palate group showed the greatest displacement.Conclusion:The cleft alar base appeared to shift outward and downward because of an optical illusion, but in fact, both alar bases shifted; the alar base on the cleft side was displaced inward and downward, and the alar base on the noncleft side was displaced outward and upward.

Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography Reconstruction and Measurement of Nasal End Deformity in Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate.

The repair of nasal deformities secondary to cleft lip and palate is complex and requires reliable preoperative nasal 3-dimensional assessment. This study explored nasal end (defined as the lower third of the external nasal and vestibular parts of the nasal cavity) deformities secondary to unilateral complete cleft lip and palate. Three-dimensional nasal end morphometric measurements were obtained from 48 patients who had undergone Millard cleft lip repair and reached skeletal maturity (cleft group) and from 36 age- and ethnicity-matched normal subjects (control group). For the cleft group, paired t tests and 1-way analysis of covariance were used to evaluate the internal and external morphological characteristics of the cleft and noncleft sides of the nasal end, and correlation analysis was done to evaluate the relationship between cleft-side measurements. In the cleft group, the cleft side showed significantly smaller nasal vestibular volume and skin area, nostril area, nasal column length, and nostril height and greater nostril base length and nasal alar length than the noncleft side (all P < 0.05). Controlling for sex, there were significant differences in the nasal vestibular volume and skin area, internal nasal valve area, long nostril diameter, nostril base length, columella length, nostril height, and nasal alar length between the cleft and control groups (all P < 0.05). On the cleft side, the area of the skin lining of the nasal vestibule positively correlated with the alar length (r = 0.67, P < 0.05). Three-dimensional nasal end reconstruction provides a more detailed preoperative nasal end morphological evaluation than previously available techniques. Level III, case-control study.

Preoperative analysis of upper lip in patients with upper cleft lip/palate before lip repair.

BackgroundThe postoperative morphological appearances vary widely patients with unilateral cleft lip with or without cleft palate (UCL/P), whether it is complete or incomplete cleft. The main reason of bilateral lip asymmetry after cleft lip surgery lies in the lack of personalized measurement and design before surgery. In this study, we aim to individually investigate areas of the upper lip on cleft and non-cleft sides in patients with unilateral cleft lip with or without cleft palate (UCL/P).MethodsNinety-two patients with UCL/P (group 1: <1 year, group 2: 1–2 years) were included in the study. Group 1 included 37 patients with incomplete UCL/P and 29 with complete UCL/P; group 2 included 11 and 15 patients, respectively. The total area of the upper lip on the cleft side (Q8) was divided into Q3, Q4, and Q5 (further divided into a1 and a2), and the upper lip on the non-cleft side (Q7) was divided into Q2 and Q1 (further divided into A1 and A2). Area ratios between the cleft and the non-cleft sides were calculated, and certain parameters were tested for correlations with these ratios.ResultsValues of Q8/Q7 were partially overlapped between patients with complete and incomplete UCL/P. Significant correlations were noted between differences in height of the philtrum column (a–h) and the prolabial area ratio between the cleft and the non-cleft side (Q3/Q2) (P=0.032). Moreover, a significant correlation was noted between a1/A1 and the ratio of the lateral labial area between the cleft and the non-cleft side (Q5/Q1) (P=0.001).ConclusionsThe conventional classification of unilateral cleft lip as incomplete and complete does not completely and accurately reflect individual malformations. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze unilateral cleft lips individually to determine the repair technique and to predict postoperative outcomes.

Revisiting the unrepaired unilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity using 3D surface image analysis: A data-driven model and its implications

Current descriptions of the unilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity (uCLND) are based upon limited sample sets and subjective observations. While those descriptions are inconsistent and contradictory, theoretical models, including Hogan's "tilted tripod" and Fisher's "nasal arch forms", have never been tested. Given that favorable outcomes of treatment remain elusive, detailed study of the deformity is critical in devising better treatments. The purpose of this study was to develop a data-driven three-dimensional (3D) model of uCLND that spans the spectrum of presentation and involves a pervasive underlying mechanism. We studied 3D images of 100 infants with unrepaired cleft lip at 6 months of age. Objective assessment included the landmark positions, anthropometric dimensions, and shape-based measures. Cleft severity was stratified by the lateral displacement of subnasale, so that a model could be developed using linear regression. With progressive deviation of subnasale, the non-cleft alar base moved lateral, the cleft alar base was left posterior, and the nasal dorsum followed the caudal septum (deviating towards the non-cleft side). The "twist" resulted in opposing cleft alar dome collapse, non-cleft alar ring constriction (the non-cleft nasal sill narrowed, lateral genu rose, and alar-cheek junction became more acute), and displacement of the philtrum from midline. Our study not only supports theoretical models of uCLND but also clarifies vectors of change and reveals significant non-cleft side alterations. On the basis of our findings, the objectives of treatment should involve centralization of the columella and philtrum and rebalancing the nose by untwisting the orthogonal displacement of the alar bases.

Cheek soft tissue prediction in cleft orthognathic surgery: A 3D computer-assisted investigation with comparative analysis

The Le Fort I maxillary advancement and rotational movement have been adopted to treat patients with cleft-related skeletal Class III pattern and anteromedial cheek soft tissue deficiency, but cleft-specific cheek soft tissue prediction data are insufficient. This 3D imaging-based study addressed the issue. 3D craniofacial soft tissue and bone models were created from 32 consecutive patients who received computer-aided two-jaw orthognathic surgery for the correction of cleft-related Class III deformity and cheek soft tissue deficiency. Using superimposed 3D models, the cheek volumetric change, the cheek sagittal movement, and the 3D cheek mass position were calculated. 3D data from orthognathic surgery-treated patients with no cleft (noncleft cohort) and individuals with no facial deformity (3D norm value) were retrieved for comparative analysis. Surgical maxillary advancement (p < 0.001) but not maxillary clockwise rotation (p > 0.05) had a significant impact on the cheek soft tissue change, with prediction models showing that maxillary advancement elucidated 77 and 79% of this change on the cleft and noncleft sides, respectively. Cleft cohort (0.46±0.12) had a significantly (p < 0.001) smaller cheek soft-to-hard tissue ratio than that of the noncleft cohort (0.73±0.13). Cleft maxillary advancements >4 mm resulted in a 3D cheek mass position (2.1±1.1 mm) similar (p > 0.05) to the 3D norm value (2.2±1.2 mm), but different (p = 0.037) from the noncleft cohort (2.38±0.7 mm). This study showed that maxillary advancement but not the maxillary rotation affects the cheek soft tissue change, and the predictive values and comparative data could assist the orthodontist-surgeon interaction during preoperative planning and patient counseling.

Morphometric Analysis of Cleft Lip Palate and Prognathic Mandibles in Relation to Mandibular Canal Course

This study aimed to evaluate the mandibular canal course in individuals with cleft lip palate (CLP) and mandibular prognathism in terms of the sagittal split-ramus osteotomy using cone-beam computed tomography. Individuals with CLP older than 16 years of age and planned to undergo Le fort I + SSR osteotomies and those with class III occlusion planned to undergo Le fort I + SSR osteotomies were included. The measurements on the cleft side of CLP patients were compared with both their noncleft sides and those with class III occlusion. The course of the inferior alveolar nerve and its position in the mandible were evaluated starting from the mandibular foramen, the first entrance to the mandible, to the mental foramen, the exit from the mandible. The distance between the mandibular canal and the buccal surface of the mandible (B3) on the plane tangent to the distal of the mandibular first molar and perpendicular to the occlusal plane was found to be greater in individuals with CLP (P = 0.011). Buccal cortex thickness (C4) at the level of the mandibular canal on the plane tangent to the distal of the mandibular second molar and perpendicular to the occlusal plane was found to be lower in individuals with CLP (P = 0.021). The buccal cortex thickness of the mandible corpus and the distance of the mandibular canal to the buccal surface is different in patients with CLP compared to class III individuals' posterior to the mandible. Surgeons should take these differences into consideration during mandibular osteotomy.

Does the Initial Width of Cleft Lip Play a Role in the Occurrence of Immediate Local Complications Following Primary Cleft Lip Repairs?

Among the several factors implicated in the occurrence of local surgical site complications following cleft lip repair is the initial width of the cleft. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of cleft width in the occurrence of immediate local surgical site complications. All consecutive subjects with diagnosis of unilateral or bilateral cleft lip with or without cleft palate who presented at the cleft clinic and satisfied the inclusion criteria were recruited in the study. The width of the cleft lip defect as adopted for the study was measured from the peak of the Cupid bow on the non-cleft side to a point where the white roll begins to thin out on the cleft side. Measurement was done using a Vernier Calliper. Surgery was performed under general anesthesia after which subjects were evaluated for the presence or absence of immediate local surgical site complications which included dehiscence, infection, and vermillion notching of the lip. A total of 70 subjects consisting of 36 (51.4%) males and 34 (48.6%) females were included in the study. Mean age (±SD) was 9.0 ± (19.4) months with age range of 3 months to 13 years. The prevalence of early surgical site complications was 24.3%. The width of cleft above a critical level (14 mm) statistically correlate significantly with the occurrence of early surgical site complications (P = 0.048). This study showed that the width of cleft lip of and above critical level of 14 mm may be associated with a clinically significant risk of immediate local surgical site complications.

Alveolar bone heights of maxillary central incisors in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients using cone-beam computed tomography evaluation.

PurposeThe aims of this retrospective cross-sectional study were to measure and compare labial and palatal alveolar bone heights of maxillary central incisors in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients, following STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines.Patients and methodsThe study group consisted of 21 patients with a mean age of 16 years. High-resolution cone-beam computed tomography was performed at least one year after secondary alveolar bone grafting. The experimental side was the cleft side and the contralateral side without congenital cleft was the control. Measurements were performed on incisors’ midsagittal cross-sections. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for intergroup comparisons.ResultsThe labial and palatal distances between alveolar bone crests and cementoenamel junctions were significantly greater on the cleft side than on the noncleft side. Mean differences were 0.75 and 1.41 mm, respectively. The prevalence of dehiscences at the cleft side maxillary central incisors was 52% on the labial surface and 43% on the palatal surface. In the controls, it was 19% and 14%, respectively.ConclusionThe cleft-adjacent maxillary central incisors had more apically displaced alveolar bone crests on the labial and palatal sides of the roots than the controls. Higher prevalence of dehiscences was found on the cleft side. Bone margin differences predispose to gingival height differences of the central incisors. These differences could increase the demands of patients to obtain more esthetic treatment results with orthodontic extrusion and periodontal intervention on the cleft side.Supplementary InformationThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00056-020-00276-w) contains supplementary information, which is available to authorized users.

Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair Using the Chang Gung Technique: An Outcome Analysis.

This retrospective study analyzed the outcomes of patients undergoing complete or incomplete unilateral cleft lip repair using the Chang Gung technique. The goal was to compare the symmetry and change of the technique through the measurement of anthropometric points on digital photographs. From 2010 to 2016, a total of 274 complete and incomplete cleft lip patients without other craniofacial deformities were included in the study. All included patients had a minimum 1-year follow-up with frontal view photographs taken. The vermilion area, lip width, vermilion height, lateral lip length, lip height, and Cupid's bow width of both cleft and noncleft sides were measured for all patients. The Cleft Lip Component Symmetry Index was used to determine the symmetry of the cleft and noncleft sides in both incomplete and complete cleft groups. A total of 152 complete and 122 incomplete cleft lip patients were included in the study. The mean Cleft Lip Component Symmetry Index values showed that the vermilion area, lip height, and Cupid's bow width were symmetric on both cleft and noncleft sides. Lip width and lateral lip length were noted to be shorter, whereas the vermilion height was thicker on the cleft side than on the noncleft side. Significant differences between the complete and incomplete cleft group measurements were found for lateral lip length and lip height, and complete cleft measurements were shorter than those for incomplete clefts. There were no significant differences in vermilion area, lip width, vermilion height, and Cupid's bow width. The outcome analysis showed that vermilion height reduction and modifications could be made for both complete and incomplete groups. The complete cleft lip has been found to have a significantly shorter lateral lip length and lip height, reflecting a more severe anatomical soft tissue deficiency in this group. A long-term outcome anthropometric point study may further verify the results of this surgical technique.

Validation of a novel method for canine eruption assessment in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to propose and validate a three‐dimensional (3D) methodology for the assessment of canine eruption in patients born with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) following secondary alveolar bone graft (SABG).Methods and MaterialsA total of 10 patients (four females, six males; mean age: 8.8 years) with UCLP who underwent SABG were recruited. Pre‐ and 6‐month post‐operative cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) was acquired for all patients. Post‐operative data was registered onto pre‐operative data utilizing voxel‐based registration. Following superimposition, a segmentation process was applied to segment maxillary canine on both cleft and non‐cleft side. Thereafter, translational and rotational changes in canine position were assessed for both cleft and non‐cleft side by two observers.ResultsThe intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICC) indicated excellent reliability (≥0.90) with inter and intra‐observer error of less than 0.05 mm. The overall ICC was found to be high for assessing both translational and rotational changes. The mean absolute inter‐ and intra‐observer difference for translational and rotational changes was found to be less than 1 mm and 3°.ConclusionThe present method was found to be reliable proving to be clinically applicable for assessing maxillary canine eruption changes in both cleft and non‐cleft bone.

Diced costal cartilage graft combined with muscle repositioning improves Cleft-Side Alar asymmetry in Asian secondary unilateral cleft rhinoplasty: A three-dimensional evaluation

Asymmetry in a retrusive cleft-side ala situated posterior, lateral, and/or inferior to the non-cleft ala is aggravated by ipsilateral defect of the pyriform aperture. This study assessed diced costal cartilage graft combined with muscle repositioning in enhancing structural base and alar symmetry in secondary cleft rhinoplasty. From 2016 to 2019, 20 consecutive patients who underwent pyriform aperture paranasal augmentation combined with muscle repair secondary unilateral cleft rhinoplasty were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical three-dimensional (3D) photos were analyzed pre- and postoperatively, and the augmentation method and muscle repositioning were described detailedly. Twenty cases aged 22.2 ± 3.9 years were submitted to secondary cleft rhinoplasty with diced costal cartilage graft to the pyriform rim. They were followed up for 6.2-26.2 months, with postsurgical time averaging 10.3 ± 3.4 months. After total lip takedown by anatomic muscle re-approximation, the cleft to non-cleft side showed enhanced alar symmetry (p<0.001) and heightened vertical lip length (p<0.001). Additionally, the alar base inclination was improved toward the horizontal plane (p<0.001). The cleft-side ala was anatomically ameliorated after muscle repositioning combined with diced costal cartilage graft to the pyriform rim, improving alar symmetry. Complications were minimal, indicating the safety of this method.