The absolute and relative effects of presurgical nasoalveolar moulding in bilateral cleft lip and palate patients compared with nasal growth in healthy newborns

Florian D. Grill, Andrea Rau, Franz X. Bauer, Fiona Hellmundt, Bettina Hilmer, Maximilian Roth, Alexandra V. Behr, Klaus Dietrich Wolff, Denys J. Loeffelbein, Lucas M. Ritschl

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: This study investigated the efficiency of nasoalveolar moulding (NAM) in patients presenting with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP). It focused explicitly on nasal outcome and therefore made comparisons with healthy age-matched infants with normal nasal development. Methods: Nasal impressions from 19 BCLP patients were analysed at the beginning and at the end of NAM treatment. In addition, nasal impressions from 32 healthy newborns were taken monthly for 4 months. The casts were digitalized and analysed, using defined anatomic landmarks, by two independent observers. Initial values were compared with outcome parameters at the end of NAM therapy and with the healthy cohort. Results: NAM significantly elongated the columella in BCLP patients, with an increase of 106.5% versus 14.5% in healthy newborns. Nostril height showed significant expansion from 4.2 mm to 5.6 mm on the right side, and from 4.3 mm to 6.2 mm on the left side. Conclusion: NAM significantly elongated columella length and increased nostril height. The comparison with healthy newborns showed the effectiveness of early cartilage moulding. Detailed knowledge about absolute and relative early nasal growth was gained. However, despite highly effective NAM treatment in BCLP, nasal dimensions will not reach healthy proportions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1083-1091
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery
Volume47
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2019

Keywords

  • Cleft lip and palate
  • Nasal growth
  • Nasoalveolar moulding
  • Newborn

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