Midface Growth in Patients With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Treated With a Nasoalveolar Molding Protocol

J Craniofac Surg. 2019 Sep;30(6):1640-1643. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000005356.

Abstract

This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine the impact of a nasoalveolar molding (NAM) protocol on midface growth in school-aged children with non-syndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). Data from 56 consecutively treated, NAM-prepared, Caucasian patients with non-syndromic UCLP from a single US cleft palate center were compared to pooled center data based on 56 patients with non-syndromic UCLP treated at 2 Eurocleft centers that did not use presurgical infant orthopedics (non-PSIO). Lateral cephalograms were obtained and 28 landmarks were identified. Published cephalometric measurements from Eurocleft centers were used for comparison. Seven cephalometric measurements (SNA, SNB, ANB, A'N'B', G'-Sn'-Pg', Sn-CT-LS, ANS-Me/N-Me%), available or derivable for both centers, were analyzed. Means and standard deviations for the 7 measurements were calculated for the NAM center. Student's t-tests were used to compare group means for 6 of the measures and a test of proportion was used for ANS-Me/N-Me%. No significant differences were found between the NAM protocol-prepared group and the Eurocleft non-PSIO centers on any of the 7 analyzed cephalometric relationships after accounting for false discovery rate. The NAM treatment protocol does not appear to impact skeletal or soft tissue facial growth in school-aged children with non-syndromic UCLP.

MeSH terms

  • Cephalometry / methods
  • Child
  • Cleft Lip / surgery*
  • Cleft Palate / surgery*
  • Face / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Maxillofacial Development
  • Orthopedic Procedures
  • Retrospective Studies