Study of changes in nasal morphology in children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate after secondary bone grafting measured with image analysis

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate retrospectively changes in the nasal appearance after secondary bone grafting in children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate in 41 consecutive patients. Basal view photographs were analysed by a software program (ASYMNOS, for asymmetry of nostrils, available on simple request) that computes comparative functions between both nostrils and gives an objective score. These data were compared with those of a control group. The measurements and scores were calculated for each group, and then the global objective scores were correlated with the subjective scores that resulted from an independent external panel that ranked the aesthetic aspects of the nostrils. There was a significant improvement in the nasal symmetry postoperatively that resulted from a decrease in height between the nostrils, and a positive correlation between the objective and subjective scores.

• Unilateral cleft lip and palate
• secondary bone grafting
• nose and nostril morphology