Objective Assessment of the Nasal Airway in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate—A Long-Term Study

Abstract

The nasal airway of unilateral cleft lip and palate patients demonstrates a wide range of impairments that can be quantified by objective measurements. However, the measurements used did not differentiate between patients operated on with the one-stage and two-stage procedures except for values of the noncleft side.

Photographic Measurements Partially Correlate to Nasal Function and Appearance among Adult Cleft Patients

“…6,7,19,20 The volume and minimum cross-sectional area of the cleft side are smaller in people treated for UCLP compared with controls, when measured with RM. 7 In the current study, the nostril area was larger on the cleft side for UCLP patients than for controls.…”

“…6,7,19,20 The volume and minimum cross-sectional area of the cleft side are smaller in people treated for UCLP compared with controls, when measured with RM. 7 In the current study, the nostril area was larger on the cleft side for UCLP patients than for controls. This is explained by differences in method of analysis; area of nostril as measured on photographs is measured at the level of the nasal opening, whereas the minimum cross-sectional area (as measured by RM) is the area at the level of narrowing in the anterior part of the nose.…”

“…The procedure and specific data outcome from the panel judgments have been described earlier. 7 All data files of the patients were encoded and blinded.…”

“…1–5 Earlier studies on nasal airway function among patients treated for UCLP indicate that objectively measured nasal function is extensively impaired; the patients have lower values regarding nasal volume, higher resistance to breathing, and lower results regarding olfaction compared with controls. 6,7 …”

Three-dimensional evaluation of nasopharyngeal airways of unilateral cleft lip and palate patients

“…Subjects with cleft lip and palate (CLP) deformities frequently present with nasal airway deformities, leading to inadequate function and appearance of the nose . Frequently encountered abnormalities such as narrowing of the nasal airways due to septal deflections, as well as mucosal hypertrophy of the turbinates, tend to reduce the dimensions of the nasal cavity, increase resistance to nasal breathing, and hinder nasal airflow . Moreover, constrictions and altered dimensions in the oropharyngeal airway are also reported in CLP patients .…”