Active Presurgical Infant Orthopedics for Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: Intercenter Outcome Comparison of Latham, Modified McNeil, and Nasoalveolar Molding

Defining biomechanical principles in pre-surgical infant orthopedics in a real cleft finite element model

Presurgical infant orthopedics (PSIO) is the first step in the treatment of cleft lip and palate (CLP) and is designed to approximate the cleft segments as effectively as possible before surgical reconstruction of the lip and palate. The biomechanical efficacy of different PSIO approaches in transferring molding forces to the CLP is unknown. This study aimed to define the biomechanical principles of competing PSIO techniques in a real cleft finite element (FE) model. Active intraoral (Latham), passive alveolar molding (PAM), and extraoral (DynaCleft) molding forces were virtually applied to a real cleft FE model. In the cleft region, PAM (P < 0.001) and Latham (P < 0.05) exerted significantly less stress than DynaCleft. Intraoral molding forces acted primarily at the site of the force initiation without being accompanied by high loads in the midface. PAM showed a tendency toward a better flow behavior of the molding forces than Latham. Extraoral molding transferred high stresses to the cleft, alveolar ridge, and midface. Intraoral passive molding was ultimately characterized by the highest biomechanical efficacy and showed the most favorable load distribution of all of the PSIO approaches considered in this study. Future research is needed to validate the findings against clinical data.

A multi-centric, single-blinded, randomized, parallel-group study to evaluate the effectiveness of nasoalveolar moulding treatment in non-syndromic patients with complete unilateral cleft lip, alveolus and palate (NAMUC study): a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Cleft lip and palate (CLP) are among the most common congenital anomaly that affects up to 33,000 newborns in India every year. Nasoalveolar moulding (NAM) is a non-surgical treatment performed between 0 and 6 months of age to reduce the cleft and improve nasal aesthetics prior to lip surgery. The NAM treatment has been a controversial treatment option with 51% of the cleft teams in Europe, 37% of teams in the USA and 25 of cleft teams in India adopting this methodology. This treatment adds to the already existing high burden of care for these patients. Furthermore, the supporting evidence for this technique is limited with no high-quality long-term clinical trials available on the effectiveness of this treatment.

METHOD

The NAMUC study is an investigator-initiated, multi-centre, single-blinded randomized controlled trial with a parallel group design. The study will compare the effectiveness of NAM treatment provided prior to lip surgery against the no-treatment control group in 274 patients with non-syndromic unilateral complete cleft lip and palate. The primary endpoint of the trial is the nasolabial aesthetics measured using the Asher McDade index at 5 years of age. The secondary outcomes include dentofacial development, speech, hearing, cost-effectiveness, quality of life, patient perception, feeding and intangible benefits. Randomization will be carried out via central online system and stratified based on cleft width, birth weight and clinical trial site.

DISCUSSION

We expect the results from this study on the effectiveness of treatment with NAM appliance in the long term along with the cost-effectiveness evaluation can eliminate the dilemma and differences in clinical care across the globe.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov CTRI/2022/11/047426 (Clinical Trials Registry India). Registered on 18 November 2022. The first patient was recruited on 11 December 2022. CTR India does not pick up on Google search with just the trial number. The following steps have to be carried out to pick up. How to search: ( https://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/advsearch.php -use the search boxes by entering the following details: Interventional trial > November 2022 > NAMUC).

Effects of nasoalveolar molding on nasolabial aesthetics in patients with cleft lip and palate during pre-adolescence: A systematic review and meta-analysis of retrospective studies

This study aims to analyze long-term effects of nasoalveolar molding (NAM) as a part of cleft primary management protocols on nasolabial aesthetics for patients with non-syndromic cleft lip and palate by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. Six electronic databases and two journals were searched up to July 2023. Studies comparing nasolabial outcomes between NAM and non-NAM protocols were selected for further analysis. Nasolabial aesthetics were the outcome of interest. Data extraction, methodological quality assessment, risk of bias assessment, meta-analysis and subgroup analysis were performed. Seven retrospective cohort studies were selected for a qualitative review and four for a quantitative analysis. The risk of bias assessment was moderate for most studies. Only studies utilizing the Asher-McDade rating (AMR) were included for meta-analyses. The protocols with NAM exhibited a significantly lower AMR score for vermillion border than other protocols. AMR scores for nasal form and nasal symmetry from protocols with NAM were significantly lower than protocols without any pre-surgical infant orthopaedics (PSIO) but not significantly different from protocols with other PSIO techniques. The AMR score for nasolabial profile from protocols with NAM was not significantly different from other protocols. However, subgroup analysis demonstrated that protocol combining NAM and primary rhinoplasty significantly lowered AMR scores for nasal form, nasal symmetry and nasolabial profile. For patients with unilateral cleft lip with or without palate (UCLP), this study found that a protocol combining NAM and primary rhinoplasty improved nasolabial outcomes while a protocol with NAM alone offered only limited benefits. For patients with BCLP, the available evidence remains inconclusive. Performing NAM in combination with primary rhinoplasty improves nasolabial aesthetics in patients with UCLP. PROSPERO (CRD4202128384).

Comparison of craniomaxillofacial morphology in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate treated with/without presurgical nasoalveolar molding - a retrospective study with a mean age of 5 years

OBJECTIVES

To three-dimensionally assess differences in craniomaxillofacial skeletal development in patients with operated unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) treated with/without presurgical nasoalveolar molding (PNAM) with a mean age of 5 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cone-beam CT radiographs of 30 patients with UCLP who had undergone PNAM and 34 patients with UCLP who did not receive PNAM were analyzed. The data were stored in DICOM file format and were imported into the Dolphin Imaging program for 3D image reconstruction and landmark identification. 33 landmarks, 17 linear and three angular variables representing craniofacial morphology were analyzed and compared by using the Mann-Whitney U tests.

RESULTS

The vast majority of linear variables and 3D coordinates of landmark points reflecting craniofacial skeletal symmetry were not significantly different between the two groups. In terms of craniofacial skeletal development, the PNAM group had a significantly smaller anterior nasal spine offset in the midsagittal plane and a greater maxillary length compared to the non-PNAM group.

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluations performed in early childhood showed that treatment with/without PNAM in the neonatal period was not a major factor influencing craniomaxillofacial hard tissue development in patients with UCLP; moreover, PNAM treatment showed significant correction of skeletal deviation at the base of the nose.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Follow-up in early childhood has shown that PNAM treatment administered during the neonatal stage does not impede maxillary development and has benefits in correcting nasal floor deviation. It is a viable option for improving nasal deformity in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal of the Evidence Base for Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM)

OBJECTIVE

To critically appraise the body of scientific literature supporting the risks and efficacy of nasoalveolar molding (NAM), specifically in contrast to alternative methods of presurgical infant orthopedics (PSIO) or to treatment without PSIO.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Five outcome domains were considered: nasolabial aesthetics; dentoalveolar relationship; midfacial growth; cost and burden of care; and number of anesthetic events.

DESIGN

MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus were queried for articles from the first description of the Grayson-Santiago NAM technique (1993) through December 13, 2021. After the application of inclusionary and exclusionary criteria, selected articles were critically appraised using a systematic framework that included risk of bias assessment using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 and ROBINS-I tools.

RESULTS

A total of 88 studies were included. Level-I and -II evidence showed on par or better approximation and alveolar alignment achieved by NAM compared to other PSIO. Level-II and -III evidence showed improved nasolabial aesthetics compared to other PSIOs. Level-II and -III evidence supported no harm to maxillofacial skeletal growth through age 12. Sparse level-III evidence supported a reduced number of labial or nasal revisions following NAM. Level-II and -III evidence showed NAM requiring upfront cost and frequent appointments but reducing caregiver psychosocial burden and reducing long-term costs compared to select alternatives. Many studies carried a high risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence supports the overall efficacy of NAM regarding short/mid-term outcomes, with a low risk of negative effects on midfacial growth or dental development. The high risk of bias discovered in many papers underscores the need for robust study design in future research.

Presurgical management trends and nasoalveolar molding usage for infants with cleft lip and palate in the capital of a developing country

BACKGROUNDS

Nasoalveolar molding (NAM) application is among presurgical management (PSM) techniques used for infants with cleft lip and palate (CLP). It helps to approximate the palatal cleft and to reshape the nasoalveolar complex prior to primary lip repair. This study aimed to explore types of PSM and the dental speciality provision for infants with CLP in Baghdad. The status of NAM usage and surgeons' perceptions toward NAM usage were assessed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a cross-sectional paper-based questionnaire study that collected responses of surgeons perform primary lip and nose repair regarding PSM. The questionnaire was distributed amongst public and private hospitals in Baghdad. Twenty surgeons were enrolled (only those surgeons who perform primary repair for infants with CLP); two females and eighteen males.

RESULTS

The majority of participants' responses suggested that the majority of infants with CLP were provided with baby feeding plates and lip straps. Six surgeons reported that a percentage of their patients who have been provided with NAM. PSM in Baghdad was mostly supplied by orthodontists and plastic surgeons, and the next most likely providers were prosthodontists. 82.35% of the surgeons found that primary surgical repair procedures were easier with NAM than for the other infants. The rest have not perceived any differences.

CONCLUSIONS

Orthodontists, surgeons and prosthodontists were involved in providing PSM. Baby feeding plates and lip straps were the most common PSM in Baghdad, although NAM is not uncommon. Most surgeons believe that using NAM made surgical procedures easier and permitted the prediction of surgical outcomes.

Clinical Outcomes of Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Repair with Nasoalveolar Molding and Gingivoperiosteoplasty to Facial Maturity

BACKGROUND

The long-term effects of nasoalveolar molding (NAM) on patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) are unknown. The authors report clinical outcomes of facially mature patients with complete BCLP who underwent NAM and gingivoperiosteoplasty (GPP).

METHODS

A single-institution retrospective study of nonsyndromic patients with complete BCLP who underwent NAM between 1991 and 2000 was performed. All study patients were followed to skeletal maturity, at which time a lateral cephalogram was obtained. The total number of cleft operations and cephalometric measures was compared with a previously published external cohort of patients with complete and incomplete BCLP in which a minority (16.7%) underwent presurgical orthopedics before cleft lip repair without GPP.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients with BCLP comprised the study cohort. All patients underwent GPP, 13 (54.2%) underwent alveolar bone graft, and nine (37.5%) required speech surgery. The median number of operations per patient was five (interquartile range, two), compared with eight (interquartile range, three) in the external cohort ( P < 0.001). Average age at the time of lateral cephalogram was 18.64 years (1.92). There was no significant difference between our cohort and the external cohort with respect to sella-nasion-point A angle (SNA) [73 degrees (6 degrees) versus 75 degrees (11 degrees); P = 0.186] or sella-nasion-point B angle (SNA) [78 degrees (6 degrees) versus 74 degrees (9 degrees); P = 0.574]. Median ANB (SNA - SNB) was -3 degrees (5 degrees) compared with -1 degree (7 degrees; P = 0.024). Twenty patients (83.3%) underwent orthognathic surgery.

CONCLUSION

Patients with BCLP who underwent NAM and GPP had significantly fewer total cleft operations and mixed midface growth outcomes at facial maturity compared with patients who did not undergo this treatment protocol.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, III.

Ten-Year Cephalometric Comparison of Patients With Cleft Palate who Received Treatment With Active or Passive Pre-surgical Orthopedic Devices

BACKGROUND

Pre-surgical orthopedic (PSO) devices can be used in the management of patient with cleft lip/palate (CL/P) to narrow the alveolar gap (AG) prior to lip surgery. There are few studies comparing these 2 devices. The objective of this work was to compare the effects of active and passive PSO devices on facial growth in a single surgeon's cohort of patients with CL/P over a 10-year period.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all patients with CL/P in a single surgeon's practice from 2002 to 2018 was performed. Preoperative measurements of AG size were done using electronic calipers on patient molds. Patient radiographs were taken at 5 and 10 years of age and cephalometric landmarks were plotted using specialized software. Independent sample t-tests were used to compare means for maxillary, mandibular, vertical, and dento-alveolar growth parameters.

RESULTS

Twenty patients with an active device and 23 patients with a passive device were included. No differences were observed in the basic demographic information between the two groups. At the time of lip repair, patients with a passive device had significantly larger horizontal AGs (P < .01), but by the time of palate repair, there was no difference between the two groups (P = .94). There was no significant difference in any growth measurements between the active and passive device groups at 5 and 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite closing the AG more quickly, patients treated with an active device have no significant difference in facial growth at 10 years compared to patients treated with a passive device.

The role of primary surgery in the management of orofacial clefting

Primary cleft surgery refers to the planned surgical procedure(s) necessary to reconstruct an orofacial defect according to a specified protocol; in the context of a unilateral cleft lip and palate, this would include lip repair (with vomer flap closure of the hard palate), subsequent repair of the residual soft palate cleft and finally, the alveolar bone graft. This paper will provide an overview of the goals of primary surgical reconstruction, including the utility of pre-surgical orthopaedic techniques, including nasoalveolar moulding. The surgical methods of primary lip repair in both unilateral and bilateral clefts will be outlined and the concept of a primary rhinoplasty will be introduced. The principal techniques of cleft palate reconstruction will be delineated for a variety of cleft phenotypes. The final element of the primary reconstructive sequence is the alveolar bone graft using cancellous bone harvested from the iliac crest at approximately 8-10 years of age. The role of optimising oral hygiene prior to bone grafting cannot be over-emphasised and the utility of pre-surgical orthodontic arch expansion is also discussed. In the UK, bone graft outcomes are audited using the Kindelan score, which is evaluated from the six-month postoperative upper standard occlusal radiograph.

Three-dimensional Analysis of Factors Related to the Effective Alveolar Molding in Presurgical Infant Orthopedics: Findings From a Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE

Presurgical infant orthopedics (PIO) reduces the severity of the original cleft and burden on patients and their parents, provides better esthetics and function, and enables surgeons to achieve better surgical repair. To reduce the alveolar cleft width and to predict treatment difficulty using PIO, various measures were examined in pretreatment cast models.

DESIGN

Retrospective case-control pilot study.

PATIENTS

The patients were 22 infants with non-syndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), and cast models of these infants were used.

METHODS

After PIO using passive plates, infants with UCLP were divided into two groups: contact group (12 cases with close proximity of the greater and lesser segments) and non-contact group (10 cases without proximity of segments). The two groups were compared, and variables related to the proximity between alveolar clefts were examined.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in age at PIO initiation between the two groups. However, the treatment duration was significantly longer in the non-contact group than in the contact group. Among the 13 variables, the initial lateral deviation of the nasal septum was significantly larger in the contact group than in the non-contact group. A significant positive correlation was observed between the initial lateral deviation of the nasal septum and reduction of the alveolar cleft width by PIO.

CONCLUSION

Initial lateral deviation of the nasal septum is a predictive factor for the proximity between alveolar segments in infants with UCLP at the PIO.

Lips and noses in 10-year old patients with repaired complete unilateral clefts of lip, alveolus, and palate. A prospective three-centre study of the Baltic Cleft Network

This multicenter study aimed at comparing different techniques of lip and nose repair with or without NAM and primary anterior rhinoplasty in pre-adolescent children. Patients with unilateral clefts of lip, alveolus, and palate who had undergone cleft lip and nose repair were evaluated in a prospective three-centre study using standardized monochromatic, cropped photographs. Four cleft surgeons evaluated the aesthetics of the central part of the face when the patients had reached age ten years. Seventy-six sets of photographs out of 87 patients were evaluated. The overall ratings of lips and noses did not differ much between centres. However, noses of centres 1 (mean 0.74; SD 0.57) and 2 (mean 0.76; SD 0.60) had been rated better than centre 3 (mean 1.32; SD 0.78; p = 0.0078), especially "Deformation of upper part of nostril rim or poor position of alar cartilage". Centre 3 had produced better looking scars (mean 0.33; SD 0.48); p = 0.0036. Within the limitations of the study it seems that NAM and primary anterior rhinoplasty including postoperative nasal stents should be performed whenever possible in order to achieve a favorable shape of the nose and to reduce the need for secondary corrective surgery.

Does Initial Cleft Lip Width Predict Final Aesthetic Outcome?

Background:

A natural aesthetic appearance of the lip and a favorable scar are essential goals of cleft lip repair. Wider clefts intuitively pose a greater technical challenge; however, the relationship between initial width and aesthetic outcome remains controversial. The current study aimed to determine whether lip adhesion can help wider clefts achieve safe, consistent aesthetic outcomes.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on unilateral cleft lip patients who underwent lip repair within a 2-year period by the senior author. Subjects were divided into three groups based on cleft severity: (1) wide complete clefts that required lip adhesion before definitive repair, (2) narrower complete clefts that did not require lip adhesion, and (3) incomplete clefts. Aesthetic outcomes related to the vermillion and upper lip scar were rated by 48 blinded observers. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Nasal outcomes were not assessed.

Results:

Seventeen patients were included in the study: five in group 1, six in group 2, and six in group 3. Patients with the widest clefts did not have inferior results compared with the other groups. In fact, they had statistically significantly higher aesthetic scores in all scar-related outcomes compared with those in groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

This study suggests that a wide cleft does not necessarily foreshadow a poor surgical outcome. In fact, wide clefts may have pleasing results, and the use of a staged lip adhesion approach can be useful for achieving the desired outcome in wider clefts.

A Comparative Assessment of Nasal Appearance following Nasoalveolar Molding and Primary Surgical Repair for Treatment of Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

BACKGROUND

Although many cleft teams have adopted nasoalveolar molding to improve nasal form, few comparative studies have assessed the postoperative benefits of this treatment. Given that reported outcomes have been contradictory and that treatment involves considerable burden to families, the purpose of this study was to assess objective and subjective changes from nasoalveolar molding at approximately 5 years of age.

METHODS

All patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate who underwent primary cheiloplasty performed by a single surgeon over a 7-year period were reviewed. Patient results were grouped into nasoalveolar molding or no-nasoalveolar molding. Cleft severity and aesthetic outcomes were assessed by panels of raters who independently ranked subject images at presentation, immediately preoperative (after molding), and at 5-year follow-up. Objective symmetry was measured using standard anthropometric analysis on three-dimensional images.

RESULTS

Among 41 patients included, 16 successfully completed nasoalveolar molding. Both groups were similar at presentation; however, the nasoalveolar molding group had improved appearance following molding (p < 0.05). After surgery, at 5 years of age, the nasoalveolar molding group had better rank scores for overall appearance (p < 0.05), cleft nostril height, and cleft medial lip height (p < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed that nasoalveolar molding treatment was the most significant predictor of overall nasal appearance at 5 years, but that treatment team experience and initial severity were also significant predictors (p < 0.05). Qualitative audit following analysis identified favorable and unfavorable features of nasoalveolar molding.

CONCLUSION

In children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate, nasoalveolar molding was associated with better overall nasal aesthetics and improved cleft nostril height and cleft medial lip height at approximately 5 years of age.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, III.

Long-Term Comparison of the Aesthetic Outcomes between Nasoalveolar Molding- and Non-Nasoalveolar Molding-Treated Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

BACKGROUND

The cleft lip-nose deformity in unilateral cleft lip and palate is one of the most challenging problem for surgeons to correct. Although nasoalveolar molding has been shown to be effective in improving presurgical symmetry in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate, there is need for better evidence regarding the long-term nasolabial aesthetics of patients who have received this therapy.

METHODS

Thirty-eight patients treated with nasoalveolar molding and 48 patients not treated with nasoalveolar molding (but otherwise treated similarly) with unilateral cleft lip and palate were studied to assess and compare the nasolabial aesthetics. The objective evaluation of the nasal symmetry was performed on the basal view of two-dimensional photographs and the subjective nasolabial aesthetic evaluation was performed using the Asher-McDade scale.

RESULTS

At 5-year postoperative follow-up, nasoalveolar molding group patients had better mean values on the objective scores; however, these were not statically significant. The nasoalveolar molding group of patients had a statistically significant improvement in the subjective evaluation in comparison to the non-nasoalveolar molding-treated patients. The number of lip revisions was also statistically higher in the non-nasoalveolar molding-treated group of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective, single-center study, the authors found that at 5-year postoperative follow-up, nasoalveolar molding-treated patients had improved nasolabial aesthetics and fewer revision operations. These are, however, preliminary results and the patients will be followed up until the end of growth to assess the longer term effects of nasoalveolar molding on the nasolabial aesthetics in unilateral cleft lip and palate.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, III.

The Evolution of Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair

ABSTRACT

The understanding of cleft lip etiology and approaches for surgical repair have evolved over time, allowing for improved ability to restore form and function. The variability of cleft lip presentations has necessitated a nuanced surgical approach with multidisciplinary cleft care. The earliest documentation of unilateral cleft lip repair predates the 19th century, with crude outcomes observed before the advent of curved incisions and advancement flaps. In the 20th century, straight line, quadrilateral flap, and triangular flap repairs were introduced to mitigate post-repair surgical scarring, increase lip length, and restore the symmetry of the Cupid's bow. Towards the latter part of the century, the development of rotation-advancement principles allowed for improved functional and aesthetic outcomes. Future technical improvements will continue to address the goals of lip and nasal symmetry, muscular continuity, precise scar concealment, and improved patient satisfaction in an increasing range of cleft phenotypes and during subsequent years of growth.

Time-Driven, Activity-Based Costing of Presurgical Infant Orthopedics: A Critical Component of Establishing Value of Latham Appliance and Nasoalveolar Molding

BACKGROUND

Value-based health-care reform requires assessment of outcomes and costs of medical interventions. In cleft care, presurgical infant orthopedics is still being evaluated for clinical benefits and risks; however, the cost of these procedures has been largely ignored. This study uses robust accounting methods to quantify the cost of providing two types of presurgical infant orthopedics: Latham appliance treatment and nasoalveolar molding.

METHODS

This is a prospective study of patients with nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate who underwent treatment with presurgical infant orthopedics from 2017 to 2019 at two academic centers. Costs were measured using time-driven activity-based costing. Personnel costs, facility costs (operating room, clinic, and inpatient ward), and equipment costs were included. Travel expenses were incorporated as an estimate of direct costs borne by the family, but indirect costs (e.g., time off from work) were not considered.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients were treated with Latham appliance treatment and 14 were treated with nasoalveolar molding. For Latham appliance treatment, average total cost was $7553 per patient ($1041 for personnel, $637 for equipment, $4871 for facility, and $1004 for travel over 6.5 visits). Unilateral and bilateral costs were $6891 and $8860, respectively. For nasoalveolar molding, average cost totaled $2541 ($364 for personnel, $151 for equipment, $300 for facility, and $1726 for travel over 13 visits); $2120 for unilateral and $3048 for bilateral treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The major difference in cost is attributable to operative placement of the Latham device. Travel cost for nasoalveolar molding is often higher because of frequent clinical encounters required. Future investigation should focus on whether outcomes achieved by presurgical infant orthopedics justify the $2100 to $8900 expenditure for these adjunctive procedures.

Update in Unilateral Cleft Lip Surgery

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Describe the unilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity and associated anatomical variations. 2. Understand the history and evolution of the unilateral cleft lip repair. 3. List different presurgical treatment options. 4. Differentiate between surgical techniques.

SUMMARY

This article describes characteristics of the unilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity and its management, including presurgical orthopedics, operative techniques, and postsurgical care. The rotation-advancement and straight-line repairs are discussed in detail, as are the current concepts in primary cleft nose repair.

Presurgical Orthopedic Intervention Prior to Cleft Lip and Palate Repair: Nasoalveolar Molding Versus Passive Molding Appliance Therapy

BACKGROUND

Nasoalveolar molding (NAM) is a widely used presurgical orthopedic device, despite disputes over its effectiveness. This study compares the outcomes after cleft lip and nose repair in patients who received NAM versus those who underwent passive alveolar molding with lip taping.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate who received either NAM (n = 16) or passive molding (n = 10) treatments was conducted. Alveolar gap width was measured on maxillary casts until time of palatoplasty. Nasolabial symmetry was assessed by examining anthropometric ratios on post-operative three-dimensional photographs. Burden of care was evaluated by analyzing the number of patient appointments attended, treatment costs, and caregiver satisfaction surveys.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference existed in alveolar gap at time of initial appointment or palatoplasty, however the gap was smaller in the NAM cohort at time of lip and nose repair. No statistically significant difference existed in postsurgical heminasal width, nostril width, nostril height, labial height or nasal ala projection asymmetry between the NAM and the passive molding cohort. Patients in the NAM group attended more dental appointments and incurred higher treatment costs compared to the passive molding group. Caregivers reported high satisfaction with treatment outcomes in both cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

There were no differences between NAM and passive molding regarding postsurgical nasolabial appearance and patient satisfaction. Both treatments narrow the alveolar gap. However, NAM places a higher burden of care on families.

Long-Term Effects of Nasoalveolar Molding in Patients With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate long-term treatment effects of nasoalveolar molding (NAM) in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).

DESIGN

Included manuscripts met the following criteria: (1) involved patients with UCLP who received NAM; (2) included comparison group(s) who either received non-NAM passive presurgical infant orthopedic appliances (PSIO) or who did not receive any PSIO; (3) reported at least one objective or validated measure of nasolabial, craniofacial, or palatal form; and (4) had patient follow-up beyond 4 years of age.

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies were included in this review. Meta-analyses were possible for Asher-McDade parameters and cephalometric measurements. Compared to patients who did not receive any PSIO, those who underwent NAM therapy were more likely to have good to excellent frontal nasal form (Risk ratio: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.24-3.68) and vermillion border (Risk ratio: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.19-2.71). However, there were no statistically significant differences in cephalometric measurements between these groups. Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences between patients receiving NAM versus non-NAM PSIO. There was insufficient evidence to determine the impact of NAM on dental arch development.

CONCLUSIONS

The preponderance of evidence in this review suggests that NAM produces benefits in nasolabial aesthetic form when compared with no appliance-based presurgical treatment. However, there is insufficient evidence to conclude whether NAM produces such benefits when compared with other passive PSIOs.

Systematic Review of the Long-Term Effects of Presurgical Orthopedic Devices on Patient Outcomes

Objective:

To perform a systematic review of the literature to identify the long-term effects of presurgical orthopedic (PSO) device use on patient outcomes.

Design:

A comprehensive literature review of Embase and Ovid databases was performed to identify all English-language publications related to unilateral cleft lip and palate, presurgical devices, and patient outcomes. Studies were excluded if they did not report patient outcomes beyond 2 years of age, did not describe the use of a PSO device, were case reports (n < 10), or were purely descriptive studies.

Main Outcome Measures:

Reported patient outcomes following the use of PSO devices.

Results:

Following a review of all articles by 2 independent reviews, 30 articles were selected for inclusion. Overall, there was no reported consensus as to the long-term effects of PSO devices. Furthermore, this study identified that only 10% of published research controlled for confounding factors that could influence the reported results. Confounding factors that were identified included different operating surgeon, different surgical protocols, and different rates of revision surgeries.

Conclusions:

Overall, this systematic review identified 2 important conclusions. Firstly, there is no consensus in the literature about the long-term effects of PSO devices on long-term patient outcomes. Secondly, research in this domain is limited by confounding factors that influence the applicability of the reported results.

Sociodemographic Predictors of Treatment Success and Difficulty in Nasoalveolar Molding

OBJECTIVE

To assess social and demographic influences on caregiver success and difficulty with nasoalveolar molding (NAM).

DESIGN

Retrospective review identified patients who began NAM between April 22, 2013, and April 18, 2017, at the New York University Langone Medical Center. Records were reviewed, and the following sociodemographic data retrieved: parental marital status, parental ages, number of siblings, distance traveled to clinic, insurance coverage, concurrent medical conditions, and need for an interpreter.

PATIENTS

Patients were included if complete charting was available; 106 patients met the inclusion criteria; 79 patients with unilateral and 27 with bilateral clefts.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Chart entries indicating incorrect appliance usage, emergency visits, phone calls, and noncompliance were recorded. Alveolar cleft gap closure was measured on pre- and posttreatment models in unilateral cases. Multiple regression analyses were performed to assess the influence of social variables on these outcomes.

RESULTS

Alveolar cleft gap closure was 7.2 ± 3.0 mm, or 78.5% ± 19.1%. Cleft closure increased with paternal age by 0.33 mm (P = .007) or 2.0% (P = .017) per year, decreased with maternal age by 0.29 mm (P = .041) per year, and increased in married and partnered parents by 39% (P = .018). Incorrect appliance usage averaged 0.62 fewer instances for married and partnered parents (P = .018) and 0.43 fewer for those with private insurance (P = .019).

CONCLUSIONS

Alveolar cleft gap closure was more successful for older fathers, younger mothers, and married couples. Married couples were also less likely to experience treatment difficulties such as incorrect appliance usage or inadequate duration of wear, as were those with private insurance coverage.

The Surgical Nasoalveolar Molding: A Rational Treatment for Unilateral Cleft Lip Nose Deformity and Literature Review

The purposes of this study were to evaluate surgical outcomes after primary surgery to address unilateral cleft lip, nose, and palate deformities and to perform a review of the literature to evaluate the effects of nasoalveolar molding (NAM) plus primary surgical repair on nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate.

METHODS

A cohort study of 37 primary complete unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity repairs was performed by a single surgeon. The outcomes were anthropometric measurements of the repaired lip, nose, and alveolar cleft width at the age of 1 and 5 years. A review of the literature was performed for studies published until March 2020 to evaluate the effect of presurgical NAM on nasolabial aesthetics.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences were observed between pre- and postoperative columellar angle and alveolar cleft width. A total of 308 studies were identified, and 8 were included in the final analysis of 684 patients. The overall study quality was low according to the Oxford Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine, and GRADE level of evidence was low.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary cheilorhinoplasty alone is a good approach to improve nose appearance and alveolar gap in patients with unilateral cleft lip nose and palate deformity. Definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of presurgical NAM cannot be drawn. Available scientific evidence is not sufficient to demonstrate that combined use of presurgical nasoalveolar molding and primary surgery provides better nasolabial aesthetic outcomes than does primary surgery alone.

A Surgical and Educational Video of the Inferior Turbinate Mucosal Flap for the Nasal Floor and Intraoral Reconstruction in Unilateral Complete Cleft Lip Repair

Since the original description of Millard rotation advancement principle for cleft lip repair, many important contributions have subsequently been described by other surgeons worldwide. However, the reconstruction of the nasal floor and intraoral lining has received less attention over time. This article demonstrates a modified unilateral complete cleft lip repair using the rotation advancement principle plus multipurpose inferior turbinate mucosal flap. The accompanying videos display the 10 key steps for rationale, design, and proper execution of the inferior turbinate mucosal flap for the nasal floor and intraoral reconstruction.

NAM Therapy-Evidence-Based Results

Many orthodontists working on patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) have shown great enthusiasm for presurgical infant orthopedics (PSIO) to improve surgical outcomes with minimal intervention. Even though every clinician aims to use the best treatment modality for their patients, PSIO effects can be confounded by surgical type and timing of the primary repair, as is discussed in many studies. In such cases, one should be cautious when evaluating the particular outcomes for patients with CLP since it is difficult to differentiate the sole effect of an individual surgical or orthodontic intervention. As with any treatment methodology, nasoalveolar molding (NAM) has both benefits and limitations. Commonly cited concerns with NAM, and PSIO in general, include increased cost, increased burden of care, and a negative impact on maxillary growth. However, NAM cannot be deemed as having apparent long-term negative or positive effects on skeletal or soft tissue facial growth, based on previous studies. A review of the literature suggests that NAM does not alter skeletal facial growth when compared with the samples that did not receive PSIO. Nevertheless, the published studies on NAM show evidence of benefits to the patient, caregivers, the surgeon, and society. These benefits include documented reduction in severity of the cleft deformity prior to surgery and as a consequence improved surgical outcomes, reduced burden of care on the care givers, reduction in the need for revision surgery, and consequent reduced overall cost of care to the patient and society.

Orthodontic premaxillary setback versus premaxillary osteotomy with gingivoperiosteoplasty for Bilateral cleft lip and palate patients: 4-year observation outcomes

Patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) generally require several stages of treatment, and adequate maxillary development without orthognathic surgery is not easy to achieve. The purpose of this study was to determine short-term outcomes of orthodontic premaxillary setback (OPS) and premaxillary osteotomy (PO) for complete BCLP treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-six patients with BCLP were consecutively treated for 4 years by a single surgeon. All patients were categorized by three indications for the first operation: OPS1, cheiloplasty + gingivoperiosteoplasty (GPP) + palatoplasty; OPS2, cheiloplasty + GPP; and PO, cheiloplasty + GPP + PO. Cephalograms for maxillary growth and velopharyngeal function (VPF) were judged at 4 years old, before orthodontic treatment.

RESULTS

OPS1 was performed in 14 cases, OPS2 in 8 cases, and PO in 4 cases. As for cephalometric analysis at 4 years old, no significant differences between groups were seen in any cephalometric measurements. As for speech outcomes, assessment of VPF at 80.8±14.8 months was good in 17 cases, slightly impaired in 8 cases, and marginally impaired in 1 case, with no severely impaired cases.

DISCUSSION

No significant differences in maxillary growth or speech outcomes were seen between OPS1, OPS2, and PO groups at 4 years old, possibly because all groups showed the same position of the premaxilla after the first operation.

CONCLUSIONS

No significant differences in maxillary growth or speech outcomes were seen for 26 patients with BCLP between OPS1, OPS2, and PO groups at 4 years old. However, the long-term growth characteristics remain unclear.