Nasal symmetry after presurgical nasoalveolar molding in unilateral cleft lip and palate: a 6-year quantitative follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the midterm impact of the presurgical nasoalveolar molding (PNAM) technique on nasal symmetry in children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (CUCLP), from a submental perspective, following surgical repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Submental-view photographs from 39 children were analyzed: PNAM (n = 13), no PNAM (N-PNAM; n = 13), and age- and sex-matched controls (n = 13). CUCLP participants were 7-9 years old, had ≥ 6-year follow-up after primary repair, and were assessed prior to secondary alveolar bone grafting. Left-to-right ratios for nostril dome height, columella length, columella width, and alar width were compared using one-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc tests. RESULTS: Columella width was greater in PNAM (1.16 ± 0.24) than N-PNAM (0.93 ± 0.18; P = .02; mean difference 0.23; 95% confidence interval = 0.07, 0.39). No between-groups differences were found for nostril dome height, columella length, or alar width (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: After 6 years of follow-up, PNAM was associated with greater columella-width symmetry in children with CUCLP, while other nasal parameters were comparable among groups.