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Introduction: The aim of unilateral cleft lip repair is to restore form and function, including symmetrisation of cleft and non-cleft philtral height. Expectation of best outcome is achieved in situations with minimal asymmetry and is assumed occurs most often in incomplete cleft lip only patients. We sought to investigate philtral height discrepancy (PHD) in children with unilateral cleft lip + /-palate from a single nation cohort., Methods: Review of prospectively collected PHD measurements taken at time of surgery for all children undergoing unilateral cleft lip repair in Scotland born Jan 2017-December 2020. Data was collected using Microsoft Excel and analysed using embedded statistical software., Results: 102 consecutive patients with unilateral lip involvement were identified from the national database. 94 had prospectively documented PHD (92.2%). The majority of patients had an isolated cleft lip (51.1%). Incomplete clefts presented more frequently (52.1%) than complete clefts (47.9%). Mean PHD for the whole cohort was 3.91mm (standard deviation 1.01mm, range 1-6mm). The difference in mean PHD (in-complete versus complete) was 1.1mm (3.4 vs. 4.5, p < 0.001). For lip only versus lip and palate the difference in mean PHD was 1.0mm (3.4 vs. 4.4, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: This single country consecutive cohort review of PHD in children undergoing unilateral cleft lip repair statistically supports the anecdote that patients with an incomplete cleft lip and isolated cleft lip have lesser asymmetry at presentation. This study presents a consecutive cohort with a greater range of PHD than has previously been reported in the literature., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: This study aimed to measure and analyze the outcome of primary unilateral cleft lip repair., Design: Observational cohort study., Setting: Surabaya Cleft Lip and Palate (CLP) Center, a major referral center for the Eastern part of Indonesia, affiliated with a tertiary center., Patients, Participants: From 69 patients who met the inclusion criteria, we excluded 31 patients who were more than 2 years of age and were operated on by junior residents under supervision., Interventions: We performed anthropometric measurements of the patients on photographs taken before, immediately after, and a year after the surgery., Main Outcome Measure(s): This study measured nasal width, vertical lip height, horizontal lip length, and philtral height ratios., Results: While nasal width and philtral height ratios decreased significantly ( P = .000 and P = .000, respectively) reaching symmetry immediately after surgery, the horizontal lip length, and vertical lip height ratios remained unchanged ( P = .862 and P = .981, respectively). A year after surgery, the nasal width and horizontal lip length ratios increased significantly ( P = .017 and P = .006, respectively), while philtral height and vertical lip height ratios remained unchanged ( P = .927 and P = .138, respectively). There was no difference in the ratios based on the initial size and completeness of the cleft., Conclusion: In Surabaya CLP Center, the symmetry of nasal width, philtral height, horizontal lip length, and vertical lip height were achieved by the unilateral cleft lip repair despite the initial size and completeness of the cleft.

Background: Cleft surgeons try to construct a philtral ridge during primary repair of a cleft lip, but rarely document the results. The authors used three-dimensional photogrammetry to measure projection of philtral ridges after closure of the common forms of unilateral labial cleft., Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients with unilateral complete, incomplete (moderate and severe), and microform cleft lip repaired by one surgeon from 2000 to 2013. Cleft type determined the technique for building a philtral ridge. The relative elevation of the ridge on the cleft versus noncleft side was measured on three-dimensional childhood photographs at two locations along the philtrum: just above the Cupid's bow and at the midlabial level., Results: Thirty-four patients were evaluated at a mean age of 9.25 years. All cleft types exhibited greater projection at the philtral midlabial level compared with the Cupid's bow level. The authors found a trend toward a more prominent cleft side philtral ridge in microforms. In incomplete cleft lips, there was slightly greater philtral ridge projection in severe forms repaired after a preliminary nasolabial adhesion compared with those repaired in a single stage. There was similar projection of the cleft side ridge in two-stage complete and single-stage repaired incomplete lips., Conclusions: It is possible to construct a philtral ridge that is as prominent as the noncleft side in all types of unilateral cleft lip. Increased muscle thickness may explain the slightly increased philtral ridge projection in patients with an incomplete cleft repaired in two stages compared to one-stage closure., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, IV., (Copyright © 2020 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Purpose: Bilateral complete cleft lip (BCCL) causes severe tissue deficit and usually requires multiple revisions after primary repair. In the present study, we aimed to illustrate the nasolabial changes after primary BCCL correction., Patients and Methods: The present retrospective cohort study compared patients who had undergone BCCL and palate (BCCLP) and cleft palate only (CPO). All included patients had undergone surgery at the same treatment center (West China Hospital of Stomatology) from 2007 to 2012. The patients returned for follow-up surgery at 6 months and 5 years after their primary repair surgery. We retrieved the facial plaster casts of the enrolled patients and recorded the key nasolabial measurements. The outcome variables included the prolabial length (PL), peak distance, nasal width, and columellar length (CL). The data were analyzed using a general linear model for repeated measures, and the linear association was tested using SPSS. The level of testing efficiency (P value) was set at .05., Results: A total of 160 patients, 80 who had undergone BCCLP and 80 CPO controls, were included. All nasolabial measurements in the BCCLP group had increased during the 5-year follow-up period. The PL of the BCCLP group had increased more quickly than the PL of the CPO group (P = .000 < .05), but the CL had increased nearly as much (P = .270)., Conclusions: For the primary correction of bilateral cleft lip nose deformity, dissection and repositioning of the cleft lip and nose did not significantly inhibit the growth of the nasolabial region in the first 5 years after surgery. Nose deformities should not remain uncorrected after primary surgical repair. In contrast, cleft surgeons should focus on the finer adjustment of columella with less doubt regarding adverse effects., (Copyright © 2019 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: There is debate on the reliability of the Americleft Yardstick (AY) global nasolabial appearance assessment method. The objective was to analyze the effect of the additional basal view (BV) feature on the reliability of the AY method for Japanese children with complete cleft lip and palate (CUCLP)., Design: Blind retrospective analysis of clinical records on 43 patients (5- to 7-year-old) with nonsyndromic CUCLP who underwent primary lip repair from 2005 to 2011., Main Outcome Measure: Color pictures published in AY and Rubin's studies were used as reference pictures. Patients' photographs were cropped and rated on a 5-point scale for the vermilion border (VB), nasolabial frontal (NLF), and nasolabial profile (NLP) according to AY with/without BV assessment by Rubin's methods. Rating was performed twice by 3 oral surgeons. Intra- and inter-rater reliabilities were analyzed using weighted κ, and correlations between BV and other features were analyzed., Results: Overall average assessment scores were 2.742 (0.573) with AY and 2.702 (0.489) with AY+BV methods ( P = .728). Average intra-rater reliabilities were 0.605 and 0.611 and average inter-rater reliabilities were 0.525 and 0.48 with AY and AY+BV, respectively. Inter-rater reliability was the lowest for NLP. ρ scores between BV versus VB, NLF, and NLP were 0.025, 0.659, and 0.092, respectively., Conclusions: Present study demonstrates moderate intra- and inter-rater reliabilities obtained with the AY assessment method for Japanese children with CUCLP. Nasolabial profile standard ambiguity may lead to the poor reliability of AY assessment. Addition of the BV feature does not improve overall reliability.

Objectives: The study aimed to compare nasolabial aesthetics of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) treated in Vietnam and Estonia using three rating methods: five-point aesthetic index, a visual analogue scale (VAS), and reference scores method., Methods: A total of 56 patients with repaired UCLP (23 from Vietnam and 33 from Estonia) were included in this cross-sectional study. Patients' facial and profile photographs were cropped to reveal the nasolabial region and coded. Five examiners rated nasolabial aesthetics of the patients using three methods: five-point aesthetic index, 100 mm VAS, and reference scores method. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to evaluate intrarater and interrater reliabilities., Results: The five-point aesthetic index had a higher reliability than VAS and reference scores method. The least aesthetic feature among Vietnamese and Estonian patients was nasal symmetry and nasolabial profile respectively. No differences in nasolabial aesthetics were found between Vietnamese and Estonian patients regardless of the rating methods (p > 0.05) except for nasal symmetry., Conclusions: The five-point aesthetic index seems to produce more reproducible results. There were no significant differences in nasolabial aesthetics between the two countries. Overall average nasolabial appearance results were obtained using different treatment protocols in the two countries., (Copyright © 2018 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study was carried out on 26 unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) cases with mean age 3.6 ± 0.7 months.3D facial images were captured for each infant 2-3 days before the repair of cleft lip and at 4 months following surgery at a mean age of 8.2 ± 1.8 months, using a stereophotogrammetry imaging system. An iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm was used to superimpose the 3D facial model to its mirror image using VRMesh software. After the superimposition, the face model was divided into seven anatomical regions. Asymmetry of the entire face and of the anatomical regions was calculated by measuring the absolute distances between the 3D facial surface model and its mirror image. Colour maps were used to illustrate the patterns and magnitude of the facial asymmetry before and after surgery. There were significant decreases in the asymmetry scores for the nose, upper lip and the cheeks as a result of the surgical repair of cleft lips. Surgery did not change the magnitude of the asymmetry scores for the lower lip and chin. Residual nasolabial asymmetries were detected. The main outcome of the findings of this innovative study is to inform the required surgical refinement of primary repair of cleft lip in order to minimise facial asymmetry. We have presented a sensitive tool that could be used for comparative analysis of lip repair at various cleft centres and to guide secondary corrective surgery when required., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: For the assessment of the nasolabial appearance in cleft patients, a widely accepted, reliable scoring system is not available. In this study four different methods of assessment are compared, including 2D and 3D asymmetry and aesthetic assessments., Methods: The data and ratings from an earlier study using the Asher-McDade aesthetic index on 3D photographs and the outcomes of 3D facial distance mapping were compared to a 2D aesthetic assessment, the Cleft Aesthetic Rating Scale, and to SymNose, a computerized 2D asymmetry assessment technique. The reliability and correlation between the four assessment techniques were tested using a sample of 79 patients., Results: The 3D asymmetry assessment had the highest reliability and could be performed by just one observer (Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC): 0.99). The 2D asymmetry assessment of the nose was highly reliable when performed by just one observer (ICC: 0.89). However, for the 2D asymmetry assessment of the lip more observers were needed. For the 2D aesthetic assessments 3 observers were needed. The 3D aesthetic assessment had the lowest single-observer reliability (ICC: 0.38-0.56) of all four techniques. The agreement between the different assessment methods is poor to very poor. The highest correlation (R: 0.48) was found between 2D and 3D aesthetic assessments. Remarkably, the lowest correlations were found between 2D and 3D asymmetry assessments (0.08-0.17)., Conclusion: Different assessment methods are not in agreement and seem to measure different nasolabial aspects. More research is needed to establish exactly what each assessment technique measures and which measurements or outcomes are relevant for the patients., (Copyright © 2017 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this study was to compare the results of two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) measurements for the alveolar molding effect in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate. The sample consisted of 23 unilateral cleft lip and palate infants treated with nasoalveolar molding (NAM) appliance. Dental models were fabricated at initial visit (T0; mean age, 23.5 days after birth) and after alveolar molding therapy (T1; mean duration, 83 days). For 3D measurement, virtual models were constructed using a laser scanner and 3D software. For 2D measurement, 1:1 ratio photograph images of dental models were scanned by a scanner. After setting of common reference points and lines for 2D and 3D measurements, 7 linear and 5 angular variables were measured at the T0 and T1 stages, respectively. Wilcoxon signed rank test and Bland-Altman analysis were performed for statistical analysis. The alveolar molding effect of the maxilla following NAM treatment was inward bending of the anterior part of greater segment, forward growth of the lesser segment, and decrease in the cleft gap in the greater segment and lesser segment. Two angular variables showed difference in statistical interpretation of the change by NAM treatment between 2D and 3D measurements (ΔACG-BG-PG and ΔACL-BL-PL). However, Bland-Altman analysis did not exhibit significant difference in the amounts of change in these variables between the 2 measurements. These results suggest that the data from 2D measurement could be reliably used in conjunction with that from 3D measurement.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to use a novel system, 'Analyse It Doc' (A.I.D.) for a complex anthropometric analysis of the nasolabial region in patients with repaired unilateral complete cleft lip and palate and in healthy individuals., Materials and Methods: A set of standardized facial photographs in frontal, lateral and submental view have been taken in 50 non-cleft controls (mean age 20.6 years) and 42 patients with repaired unilateral complete cleft and palate (mean age 19.57 years). Then, based on linear, angular and area measurements taken from the digital photographs with the aid of the A.I.D. system, a photogrammetric analysis of intergroup differences in nasolabial morphology and symmetry was conducted., Results: Patients with cleft lip and palate differed from the controls in terms of more than half of analysed angular measurements and proportion indices derived from linear and area measurements of the nasolabial region., Conclusions: The findings presented herein imply that despite primary surgical repair, patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate still show some degree of nasolabial dysmorphology. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that the novel computer system is suitable for a reliable, simple and time-efficient anthropometric analysis in a clinical setting., (Copyright © 2017 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Maxillary growth in patients with cleft lip and palate is highly variable. The authors' aim was to investigate associations between preoperative cleft lip measurements and maxillary growth determined cephalometrically in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (cUCLP)., Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study., Patients: Children with cUCLP., Methods: Preoperative cleft lip measurements were made at the time of primary cheiloplasty and available for each patient. Maxillary growth was evaluated on lateral cephalometric radiographs taken prior to any orthodontic treatment and alveolar bone grafting (8.5 ± 0.7 years). The presence of associations between preoperative cleft lip measurements and cephalometric measures of maxillary growth was determined using regression analyses., Results: In the 58 patients included in the study, the cleft lateral lip element was deficient in height in 90% and in transverse width in 81% of patients. There was an inverse correlation between cleft lateral lip height and transverse width with a β coefficient of -0.382 (P = .003). Patients with a more deficient cleft lateral lip height displayed a shorter maxillary length (β coefficient = 0.336; P = .010), a less protruded maxilla (β coefficient = .334; P = .008), and a shorter anterior maxillary height (β coefficient = 0.306; P = .020) than those with a less deficient cleft lateral lip height., Conclusions: Patients with cUCLP present with varying degrees of lateral lip hypoplasia. Preoperative measures of lateral lip deficiency are related to later observed deficiencies of maxillary length, protrusion, and height.

Background: High-quality aesthetic outcomes are of paramount importance to children growing up after cleft lip and palate surgery. Establishing a validated and reliable assessment tool for cleft professionals and families will facilitate cleft units, surgeons, techniques, and protocols to be audited and compared with greater confidence. This study used exemplar images across a five-point aesthetic scale, identified in a pilot project, to score lips and noses as separate units and compared these human scores with computer-based SymNose symmetry scores., Methods: Forty-five assessors (17 cleft surgeons nationally and 28 other cleft professionals from the UK South West Tri-centre units), scored 25 standardized photographs, uploaded randomly onto a Web-based platform, twice. Each photograph was shown in three forms: lip and nose together, and separately cropped images of nose only and lip only. The same images were analyzed using the SymNose software program., Results: Scoring lips gave the best intrarater and interrater reliabilities. Nose scores were more variable. Lip scoring associated most closely with the whole-image score. SymNose ranking of the lip images related highly to the same ranking by humans (p = 0.001). The exemplar images maintained their established previous ranking., Conclusions: Images illustrating the aesthetic outcome grades are confirmed. The lip score is reliable and seems to dominate in the whole-image score. Noses are much harder to score reliably. It appears that SymNose can score lip images very effectively by symmetry. Further use of SymNose will be investigated, and families of children with cleft will trial the scoring system., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III.

Asymmetry is a major problem in repaired unilateral cleft lip (UCL). One of the important manifestations of this is the asymmetry of the vermilion. The aim of this study was to correlate the severity of the asymmetry in the vermilion to the size of the alveolar defect. Twenty patients aged between 6 and 18 months with complete unilateral cleft lip, alveolus, and palate were included. An impression of each patient's alveolus at the time of cheiloplasty was taken using silicon rubber base material, and a study cast was prepared. The width of the cleft alveolus was measured on these casts using a transparent grid. Frontal photographs were taken at 6 months postoperative and vermilion symmetry was measured as the ratio between the cleft and non-cleft sides. The results obtained in this study showed a direct correlation between the size of the alveolar defect and the vermilion symmetry in repaired UCL. The wider the cleft alveolus and greater the antero-posterior discrepancy, the greater is the vermilion asymmetry. The asymmetry of the vermilion in UCL after repair is directly dependent on the size of the alveolar defect. The alveolar discrepancy causes 'in-rolling' of the vermilion on the cleft side and affects the vermilion symmetry., (Copyright © 2015 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To prevent the occurrence of postoperative long lip, longitudinal postoperative changes in nasolabial forms of patients with unilateral cleft lip who underwent primary lip repair with or without upward advancement of the nasolabial components were compared., Patients: Forty-three subjects (24 unilateral cleft lip and palate [UCLP] and 19 unilateral cleft lip solely, and cleft lip and alveolus [UCL/UCLA]) who underwent primary lip repair with upward advancement of the nasolabial components (NA group) and 30 subjects (16 UCLP and 14 UCL/UCLA) without upward advancement (LA group) were enrolled., Outcome Measures: Postoperative photos taken at 1 and 6 months and at 1, 2, and 3 years were used for measuring the heights of the nasal alar base (NBH), the columellar base (CBH), Cupid's peak (CPH), and the upper lip (ULH). The ratios of these measurements between the affected and unaffected sides were calculated in both groups., Results: In the LA group, the 3-year postoperative all-items ratios of UCLP were significantly larger than those at 1 month postoperatively, demonstrating drooping of the nasolabial tissues in the affected side (all P < .01). Furthermore, the 3-year postoperative CPH and ULH ratio of UCL/UCLA was significantly larger than that at 1 month postoperatively, demonstrating the long lip (P < .01). In the NA group, the NBH, CBH, and CPH ratios of both UCLP and UCL/UCLA did not show significant differences between 1 month and 3 years postoperatively., Conclusion: Upward advancement of the nasolabial components prevents postoperative long lip.

Oral clefting is one of the most common significant fetal abnormalities. Cleft lip and cleft palate have drastically different clinical ramifications and management from one another. A cleft of the alveolus (with or without cleft lip) can confuse the diagnostic picture and lead to a false assumption of cleft palate. The cleft alveolus should be viewed on the spectrum of cleft lip rather than be associated with cleft palate. This is made evident by understanding the embryological development of the midface and relevant terminology. Cleft alveolus carries significantly different clinical implications and treatment options than that of cleft palate. Accurately distinguishing cleft alveolus from cleft palate is crucial for appropriate discussions regarding the patient's care., (Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.)

Background/objective: Judgement of nasolabial aesthetics in cleft lip and palate (CLP) is a vital component of assessment of treatment outcome. It is usually performed based on two-dimensional (2D) facial photographs. An increasing use of three-dimensional (3D) imaging warrants an assessment if 3D images can substitute 2D photographs during aesthetic evaluation. The aim of this study was to compare reliability of rating nasolabial appearance on 3D images and standard 2D photographs in prepubertal children., Methods: Forty subjects (age: 8.8-12) with unilateral CLP treated according to a standardized protocol, who had 2D and 3D facial images were selected. Eight lay raters assessed nasal form, nasal deviation, vermilion border, and nasolabial profile on cropped 2D and 3D images using a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Additionally, raters answer two questions: 1. Do 2D or 3D images provide more information on nasolabial aesthetics? and 2. Is aesthetic evaluation easier on 2D or 3D images?, Results: Intrarater agreement demonstrated a better reliability of ratings performed on 3D images than 2D images (correlation coefficients for 3D images ranged from 0.733 to 0.857; for 2D images from 0.151 to 0.611). The mean scores showed, however, no difference between 2D and 3D formats (>0.05). 3D images were regarded more informative than 2D images (P = 0.001) but probably more difficult to evaluate (P = 0.06)., Limitations: Basal view of the nose was not assessed., Conclusions: 3D images seem better than 2D images for rating nasolabial aesthetics but raters should familiarize themselves with them prior to rating., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Orthodontic Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Nasal aesthetic changes after cleft orthognathic surgery remain understudied. Previous scarring associated with prior cleft surgery may affect the predictability of outcomes after jaw surgery. This study evaluates changes in nasal aesthetics using three-dimensional photography after Le Fort I advancement in patients with nonsyndromic cleft-related maxillary hypoplasia. Cephalometric parameters were recorded pre- and postoperatively. Three-dimensional photogrammetric imaging analyzed changes in interalar width (IAW), internostril width (INW), nasal tip projection (NTP), collumelar length (CL), nasal labial angle (NLA), and nasal length (NL). Statistical significance between pre- and postoperative data was determined using T-tests for each parameter. Eleven patients underwent either single piece Le Fort I osteotomy and advancement, (3 bilateral, 4 unilateral cleft lip, and palate), or 2-piece advancement (2 bilateral, 2 unilateral). Average nasal soft tissue changes were IAW 1.9 mm (0.4-4.2), INW -0.2 mm (-2.8 to 1.6), NTP -1.0 mm (-4.0 to 2.0), CL -0.7 mm (-2.9 to 1.5), NLA -0.2° (-13.9 to 15.1), and NL -0.7 mm (-4.3 to 1.5), (P = 0.001, 0.6, 0.08, 0.01, 0.9, 0.2). For single-piece osteotomy alone changes were IAW 2.1 mm (0.6-4.1), INW -0.6 mm (-2.8 to 1.7), NTP -1.9 mm (-4.0 to 0.3), CL -1.2 mm (-2.9 to 0.03), NLA -1.3° (-13.9 to 15.0), and NL -1.1 mm (-4.3 to 0.7), (P = 0.007, 0.3, 0.009, 0.0002, 0.7, 0.2). For 2-piece osteotomy alone changes were IAW 1.6 mm (-0.4 to 3.3), INW 0.5 mm (0.4-1.6), NTP 0.5 mm (-1.1-2.0), CL 0.2 mm (-1.4 to 1.5), NLA 2.8° (-7.6 to 10.1), and NL -0.1 mm (-1.4 to 1.5), (P = 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.5, 0.9). Cleft-related scarring and malposition affect changes in nasal aesthetics following maxillary advancement that are different to the noncleft population. Two-piece Le Fort I increases variability of changes in nasal aesthetics compared with single-piece advancement.

Purpose: To assess the facial esthetics of patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate, and to compare the judgment of raters related and unrelated to cleft care., Materials and Methods: The sample comprised 23 adult patients (7 women and 16 men) with a mean age of 26.1 years, rehabilitated at a single center. Standardized photographs of the right and left facial profile were taken of each patient and subjectively evaluated by 25 examiners: 5 orthodontists and 5 plastic surgeons with expertise in oral cleft rehabilitation, 5 orthodontists and 5 plastic surgeons without expertise in oral cleft rehabilitation, and 5 laypersons. The facial profiles were classified into 3 categories: esthetically unpleasant, esthetically acceptable, and esthetically pleasant. Intraexaminer and interexaminer agreements were evaluated with the Spearman correlation coefficient and Kendall coefficient of concordance. The differences between rater categories were analyzed using the Student-Newman-Keuls test (with P < .05 indicating a statistically significant difference)., Results: Most of the sample was classified as esthetically acceptable. Orthodontists and plastic surgeons related to oral cleft rehabilitation gave the best scores to the facial profiles, followed by layperson examiners and by orthodontists and plastic surgeons unrelated to oral cleft rehabilitation. The middle third of the face, the nose, and the upper lip were frequently pointed out as contributors to the esthetic impairment., Conclusions: The facial profile of rehabilitated adult patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate was considered esthetically acceptable because of morphologic limitations in the structures affected by the cleft. Laypersons and professionals unrelated to oral cleft rehabilitation seem to be more critical regarding facial esthetics than professionals involved with cleft rehabilitation., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

This second part follows on from part 1 published in the previous issue of this journal. The aim of this publication is to offer teams specializing in the primary and secondary treatment of labio-alveolar-palatal clefts a prosthetic evaluation for more rational management of the dental sequellae of clefts for patients who, when they reach adulthood, often wish to improve their facial esthetics, in which the dental element plays an important part. The reorganization and restoration of the maxillary anterior teeth and their esthetic integration with respect to the face and lips would then be less of a problem for plastic surgeons and orthodontists. In this regard, the installation in this sector of implants, following ambitious bone surgery involving the sacrifice of the teeth of the medial nasal process in bilateral forms, is a protocol that could usefully be taken into account., (Copyright © 2014 CEO. All rights reserved.)

The aesthetic outcome of cleft treatment is of great importance due to its complex management and the psychosocial consequences of this defect. The aim of the study was to assess the aesthetic evaluations of patients following cleft surgery by various groups and investigate potential associations of the assessments with life quality parameters. Head photos of 12 adult patients with treated unilateral cleft lip and palate were evaluated by laypeople and professionals. A questionnaire was distributed and answered by the patients and their parents. Intra-panel agreement was high (α > 0.8) for laypeople and professionals. Between-groups agreement was high for both laypeople and professionals, but not when patients and/or parents were tested. Professionals, parents, and patients were more satisfied with patients' appearance than laypeople, although in general all groups were not highly satisfied. Low satisfaction with aesthetics correlated with increased self-reported influence of the cleft in the patients' social activity and professional life (0.56 < rho < 0.74, p < 0.05). These findings highlight the observed negative influence of the cleft on the patient's social activity and professional life and underline the need for the highest quality of surgical outcome for this group of patients., (Copyright © 2012 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the accurate three-dimensional positions and positional changes of the lip and nose in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate., Methods: Sixty-three patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and 96 patients with isolated cleft palate were retrospectively enrolled. Facial casts of all subjects taken immediately before and after cheiloplasty and before palatoplasty were used. Three-dimensional values of 12 landmarks were measured by electronic caliper and parallel milling machine. Independent-samples t test was used in analyzing positional differences between UCLP and control, and 2-way analysis of variance was selected in analyzing positional changes among UCLP groups. The threshold of significance was set at 0.05., Results: Superiorly dislocated christa philtri (Cph) (P < 0.001), subalae (Sa) (P < 0.001), and nostril tip (Nt) (P < 0.001) were partially corrected and still dislocated (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, P < 0.001) immediately after operation, but Cph (P = 0.322) and Cph' (P = 0.081) developed caudally to normal about 10 months after primary surgery. In sagittal dimension, lip and nose, especially Cph' (P < 0.001), Sa' (P < 0.001), and Nt' (P < 0.001) on the cleft side, dislocated dorsally before operation. Immediately after operation, Sa' (P = 0.456) and Nt' (P = 0.067) were normal in sagittal projection, but Cph' was corrected partially and still insufficient (P < 0.001). Unfortunately, sagittal projections of all nasolabial structures, Cph (P < 0.001), Sa' (P < 0.001), Nt (P < 0.001), Cph' (P < 0.001), Sa' (P < 0.05), and Nt' (P < 0.001), decreased significantly and were insufficient after operation., Conclusions: In vertical dimension, nasolabial displacements were corrected partially by primary surgery, and catching-up growth happened since then. Insufficient sagittal projections of the lip and nose were corrected successfully by lip repair, but lip repair itself had adverse effects on nasolabial sagittal growth.

The purpose of this controlled study is to determine satisfaction with speech and facial appearance in Flemish pre-pubescent children with unilateral cleft lip and palate. Forty-three subjects with unilateral cleft lip and palate and 43 age and gender matched controls participated in this study. The Cleft Evaluation Profile was used to assess the perceived satisfaction for individual features related to cleft care. Both the cleft palate subjects and their parents were satisfied with the speech and facial appearance. The Pearson χ(2) test revealed significant difference between the cleft palate and the control group regarding hearing, nasal aesthetics and function, and the appearance of the lip. An in depth analysis of well specified speech characteristics revealed that children with clefts and their parents significantly more often reported the presence of an articulation, voice and resonance disorder and experienced /s/ /r/ /t/ and /d/ as the most difficult consonants. To what extent the incorporation of specific motor oriented oral speech techniques regarding the realisation of specific consonants, attention to vocal and ear care, and the recommendation of secondary velopharyngeal surgery, with the incorporation of primary correction of the cleft nose deformity simultaneously with primary lip closure, will aid these patients are future research subjects., (Copyright © 2011 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate symmetry of the lip and nose in patients with CUCLP after primary cheiloseptoplasty (Afroze technique), in comparison to non-cleft controls., Methodology: In this prospective study, forty-four patients with operated non-syndromic CUCLP were included. The control group consisted of 44 volunteers without cleft defects of approximately the same age and sex. Primary septoplasty was performed in conjunction with the cleft lip (CL) repair using the Afroze incision. 3D facial images were acquired using 3D stereophotogrammetry. After a 3D cephalometric analysis of the lip and nose was performed in both groups, linear and volumetric data were acquired. Lip and nose symmetry were calculated and compared using Student`s t-tests as well as the Chi square test., Results: For all measurements, the control group was up to 36% closer to perfect symmetry compared to the CUCLP group after primary surgery. This difference was statistically significant., Conclusions: After primary cheiloseptoplasty according to the Afroze technique in patients with CUCLP, asymmetry in the nose and lip area still exists as compared to non-cleft controls. Although non-cleft individuals also show some degree of asymmetry, the results of this study stress the difficulty in obtaining near normal symmetrical relations.

Objective: Various lines of evidence suggest that face shape may be a predisposing factor for non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P). In the present study, 3D surface imaging and statistical shape analysis were used to evaluate face shape differences between the unaffected (non-cleft) parents of individuals with CL / P and unrelated controls., Methods: Sixteen facial landmarks were collected from 3D captures of 80 unaffected parents and 80 matched controls. Prior to analysis, each unaffected parent was assigned to a subgroup on the basis of prior family history (positive or negative). A geometric morphometric approach was utilized to scale and superimpose the landmark coordinate data (Procrustes analysis), test for omnibus group differences in face shape, and uncover specific modes of shape variation capable of discriminating unaffected parents from controls., Results: Significant disparity in face shape was observed between unaffected parents and controls (p < 0.01). Notably, these changes were specific to parents with a positive family history of CL/P. Shape changes associated with CL/P predisposition included marked flattening of the facial profile (midface retrusion), reduced upper facial height, increased lower facial height, and excess interorbital width. Additionally, a sex-specific pattern of parent-control difference was evident in the transverse dimensions of the nasolabial complex., Conclusions: The faces of unaffected parents from multiplex cleft families displayed meaningful shape differences compared with the general population. Quantitative assessment of the facial phenotype in cleft families may enhance efforts to discover the root causes of CL/P.

Objective: To evaluate three-dimensional (3D) facial morphology in patients surgically corrected for unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) following pre-surgical nasoalveolar molding (NAM)., Design: Prospective, longitudinal study. Digital stereophotogrammetry was used to capture 3D facial images, and x, y, and z coordinates of five landmarks were digitized to compute mean morphologies. The sample comprised 15 patients with left UCLP and 10 matched control subjects. Facial form differences at age 37 weeks, using principal components analysis and finite-element scaling analysis (FESA) were assessed., Results: Using the first two principal components, which accounted for 63% of the total shape-change, UCLP and control groups showed similar distributions in the modal space (p > 0.05). For the UCLP group, the mean 3D facial form was smaller and less protrusive when superimposed on the non-cleft mean. Using FESA, reductions in facial volume were found in the UCLP group, involving the columella (29%), labial tubercle (51%), lower lip (29%) and lateral aspects of the face (19%). The UCLP group also showed increases in size above the tip of the nose (25%) and laterally to the columella directly below the nares (29%)., Conclusions: Following surgical repair of UCLP in patients previously treated with NAM, 3D facial morphology was virtually indistinguishable from the non-cleft mean. Clinically, the apparent improvement in the facial soft tissues may mask dysmorphic skeletal growth, and further studies are required to characterize the underlying bony changes associated with the soft tissue changes reported here.

Purpose: To examine the relationship between lip repair and inhibition of maxillary growth, and to investigate the characteristics of upper lip in patients with complete unilateral clefts of lip, alveolus and palate., Material and Methods: Lateral cephalometric radiographs and photographs (anterior-posterior and profile) were taken for 3 groups of patients: (1) 35 complete unilateral cleft lip, alveolus and palate cases in whom only a labioplasty was performed as infants; (2) 47 cases who had both lip and palate repaired; and (3) 37 non-cleft peers as controls., Results: There was maxillary retrusion in groups (1) and (2). Surface area and height of the upper lip was reduced in both these groups when compared with the normal controls., Conclusion: Lip repair is a most important factor in the restraint of maxillary growth in patients with complete unilateral clefts of lip, alveolus and palate. And height and projection of the upper lip are reduced following lip repair.

Aim: To assess the degree of facial symmetry in patients suffering from unilateral cleft lip, alveolus and palate (UCLAP) by determining differences between the cleft and the non-cleft hemifaces from 3D surface data., Patients and Methods: In twenty-two 10-year-old UCLAP patients, who had the lip repaired using the Tennison-Randall technique and did not undergo further revisional surgery, differences were determined between landmarks, surface areas of the upper lip vermilion and nostrils and virtual volumes of midface, nose and upper lip for cleft and non-cleft sides, separately, after having established a plane of symmetry calculated from optical 3D facial surface data., Results: Statistically significant differences could be found between cleft and non-cleft sides for the nasal landmarks G(lat), G(sup) and La(med), the nostril angle and the virtual volume of the nose (p(Glat)=0.011, p(Gsup)<0.0005, p(Lamed)=0.002, p(nostril angle)=0.036 and p(nose volume)<0.0005, resp.)., Conclusion: Analysis of 3D data shows that complete nasal symmetry is difficult to achieve with Tennison-Randall's lip repair without revisional surgery. Further trials on larger populations of patients will allow a more comprehensive and consistent analysis of the consequence of different methods for cp repair in order to identify the techniques with the best outcome in terms of facial symmetry.

Adequate recognition of lips posture for speech articulation analysis requires of the measurement of several anthropometric mouth parameters. These are needed to estimate the position and contour of the lips and teeth and tongue positions, as well. Here, a method is proposed for lips contour detection under natural conditions without any extra hardware requirements for image acquisition. The purpose of the suggested process is to obtain the lips contour based on red hue fields detection. Afterward, geometrical features of lips are extracted from their detected contour. Image processing is divided into the following steps: Face and mouth search, lips contour detection and feature estimation from lips geometry. Due to high dimensionality of the initial feature space, it is very important to evaluate the performance of the lips features regarding their ability to discriminate pathological lip postures in the case of children with cleft lip and palate. In this paper, a proposed method for effective selection of the image feature set was developed using multivariate analysis techniques. Finally, the discriminant performance of the selected training sets was evaluated using bayesian estimators. Results of the comparison for different common testing algorithms show that the proposed processing method exposes better performance.

Objective: 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., Design: Longitudinal cohort study., Setting: Multidisciplinary cleft services in Northern Europe., Subjects: 127 consecutively treated individuals with repaired complete UCLP., Main Outcome Measures: Cephalometric variables, 14 angular and 2 ratio variables, and panel ratings of nasolabial appearance, 4 variables., Results: 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., Conclusion: 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.

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the soft tissue profile changes after maxillary advancement with distraction osteogenesis (DO)., Patients and Methods: Sixteen subjects underwent maxillary advancement with rigid external distraction after a high Le Fort I osteotomy. There were 11 male and 5 female patients, ages 5.2 to 25.7 years. The subjects included 9 with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), 4 with bilateral CLP, 2 with facial clefts and bilateral CLP, and 1 with cleft palate. Pretreatment and posttreatment lateral cephalograms were compared to evaluate the changes in soft tissue profile. A line 7 degrees below the SN plane was used as the horizontal coordinate, and a perpendicular line through Sella was used as the vertical coordinate in an XY coordinate system., Results: The preoperative facial concavity (N'SnPg') was reduced by 15.59 degrees, and the nasal tip moved 3.75 mm forward and 2.05 mm upward. These changes were positively correlated with the change of ANS position. The soft-tissue-to-hard-tissue ratio was 0.53:1 for nasal tip and ANS. The ratio was negatively correlated with the age of the patient. The ratio of soft tissue A point to skeletal A point was 0.96:1 and for the incisal edge to vermilion border of the upper lip it was 0.8:1. The soft tissue B point and Pg did not change significantly with maxillary distraction. However, the nasolabial angle increased by 4.96 degrees, the upper lip curvature flattened by 0.65 mm, and the lower lip curvature was accentuated by 0.89 mm after distraction. The amount of upper incisal exposure increased from 1.1 to 5.01 mm in the rest position., Conclusion: Maxillary DO improved the soft tissue profile by increasing nasal projection, normalizing the nasolabial angle, and making the upper lip more prominent. More upper anterior tooth show in the rest position was obtained, but the upper lip length did not change. The concave facial profile became convex, with improved facial balance and aesthetics.

The changes in soft tissue profile after Le Fort I osteotomy were evaluated cephalometrically in 38 consecutive UCLP patients (25 males, 13 females) operated on between 1987 and 1995. Mean age at operation was 23.5 years. The one-piece Le Fort I osteotomy was fixed with titanium plates and the osteotomy site was bone grafted. Neither intermaxillary fixation nor occlusal splints were used postoperatively. Soft tissue changes were analyzed both horizontally and vertically by cephalograms taken shortly before surgery, 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. The mean maxillary skeletal advancement (point A) during surgery was 3.8 mm and mean vertical lengthening 4.4 mm. One year postoperatively the horizontal change in the upper lip profile (point a) was 80% of the skeletal change. Vertically, the soft tissue change in the upper lip was smaller 40%, but increased significantly (to 58%) if V-Y plasty was used. The V-Y plasty also increased the anteroposterior thickness of the upper lip. No significant soft tissue changes were observed between 6 months and 1 year postoperatively.

A retrospective study of 25 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate and 25 patients with hypoplastic maxillae without a cleft was carried out to evaluate the effects of maxillary osteotomies at the Le Fort I level on the lip and nose profile. The pre-surgical cephalometric tracing was superimposed twice on the post-surgical cephalogram, on the cranial structures and the anterior maxillary structures, for landmark movement measurement. Results showed statistically significant correlations between soft and hard tissue movement in the cleft group. On average, the ratios of horizontal nasal tip, nasal base and lip movement to underlying hard tissue movement were approximately one fourth, one half and two thirds respectively. The ratio of vertical lip to incisor movement was about one half. The correlations were less significant in the non-cleft group, only the upper lip movement showed statistically significant correlation with hard tissue movement, with a ratio of one half horizontally and one third vertically. It was concluded that in maxillary osteotomy, the cleft group showed a higher soft tissue to hard tissue movement ratio. The correlation between soft and hard tissue movements were more statistically significant in the cleft group than in the non-cleft group. However, though statistically significant, the level of correlation was not strong on an individual basis except in the horizontal lip response of the cleft group. Individual variation was wide and clinical judgement needs to be considered accordingly.

This first part of an article on primary repair of the unilateral cleft lip and nose is dealing with the lip deformity. A differentiated labial and nasal muscle reconstruction is as important as an esthetic skin closure. A symmetrical bone platform and a limited tissue defect are ideal conditions for the definitive lip repair. The combination of a lip/nose adhesion and a growth guidance plate is able to create these conditions in a period of four months.

Sixty patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate were compared for lip and nose appearance. All patients were photographed from an anteroposterior and a basal view at 7-10 years of age. The photographic registration method was tested for validity and accuracy. Although the four groups of 15 patients each were treated according to different protocols, many similarities were found with shorter lip heights at the cleft side and inclination of the rima oris. Asymmetry of nose and retropositioning at the cleft side naris were generally seen. Significantly straighter noses were demonstrated in the group treated with a two-stage lip nose operation combined with nose plugs, and the two groups where vomer flaps were used showed the greatest deviation of the nose.

A method of analysis of a cast of the upper part of the mouth cavity which allows a comparison of various forms thereof, by the use of five parameters is described. For their calculation, only five measurements between four pre-determined points are needed. With the great accuracy which the method ensures, it is possible to follow, at short time intervals, the changes brought about by jaw-orthopaedic and surgical procedures. Numerical and schematic graphical comparison permits a rapid evaluation of results achieved in the treatment of clefts. The character of the parameters elucidates the morphogenesis of clefts and indicates the most rational therapy.

In this follow-up study of adult cleft patients with a unilateral cheilognathopalatoschisis, the effect on maxillo-mandibular development of the age at which the palatoplasty had been performed was investigated. It was concluded that it makes little difference whether the hard palate is closed at the age of 3 or 6 years.

This article proposes a set of minimal standards for reporting the results of surgery on patients with cleft lip with or without cleft palate and cleft palate only. These standards do not represent what is technically possible, only what is considered minimally acceptable for presentation in a public forum. They have a clinical focus and should be attainable by any well-constituted cleft palate team. As the title indicates, this document is a proposal. It is hoped that the readership will respond to the recommendations presented so that some set of standards can be adopted in the near future. Once adopted, these standards should be reviewed and updated periodically.

Based on 25 cases with unilateral cleft of lip, alveolus and palate with retromaxillism (CLAP) and 25 cases with pure retromaxillism (RM), the effect on the lip of advancing the maxilla by Le Fort I osteotomy is analysed. It can be shown that on average the base of the upper lip follows the base of the maxilla in a ratio of 4:7. The free end of the upper lip is pushed forwards by the upper front teeth in a ratio of 5:9. This means that to achieve a specified lip advancement, the maxilla has to be brought forward about double the amount. No important between CLAP and RM could be seen. Leaving the nasal spine intact has a favourable influence on movements of the upper lip. The amount of maxillary advancement has no bearing on the ratios. It seems though that thin lips follow the movement of the maxilla better than voluminous lips. There is no satisfactory explanation why the extremes in all groups for all measurements are placed so very far apart. This leads to the conclusion that in spite of careful planning the result in the individual case can differ considerably from that expected.

Use of the versatile Abbé flap for lip-nose revision of a representative adult with bilateral cleft lip and palate is reported. The deformity is discussed, and the surgical plans are developed and executed. Presented is a technique for reliably securing the lateral orbicularis oris muscle components to the philtrum, which ensures viability of the transposed flap and provides functional continuity across the midline while accentuating the philtral dimple.