Three-Dimensional Comparison in Palatal Forms Between Modified Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding Plate and Hotz's Plate Applied to the Infants With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Recent Advances in Nasoalveolar Molding Therapy Using 3D Technology

Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM) is an adjunctive treatment modality designed to reorient misaligned tissue structures and nasal cartilage in cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) patients. Recent advances in NAM therapy focus on modifications to the intraoral molding plate or nasal stent intended to improve treatment outcomes, ease of use, compliance, and cost-effectiveness. Notably, 3D technological advancements have been employed to design NAM devices more efficiently and create objective, standardized means of measuring progressive morphological changes during therapy. These advances are designed to incorporate 3D technology in the treatment of cleft lip and/or palate to render it more precise, accurate, and time-efficient.

Nasal molding prevents relapse of nasal deformity after primary rhinoplasty in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip: An outcomes-based comparative study of palatal plate alone versus nasoalveolar molding

Objectives

In recent years, many studies have reported that the presurgical nasoalveolar molding method improves the nose morphology; however, the reason for its effectiveness after surgery has never been understood. We evaluated the effect of nasoalveolar molding by comparing it with a passive orthopedic method without a nasal stent and focusing on the nostril morphology after primary cheiloplasty using various measurement methods. We then analyzed the essential factors.

Materials and methods

The patients involved were 31 infants with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate treated with primary cheiloplasty at the University of Tsukuba Hospital from 2004 to 2011. Of the 31 infants, 16 received nasoalveolar molding treatment and 15 received passive orthopedic treatment as controls. Photographic facial measurements were performed for all patients immediately and 7 months after primary cheiloplasty. The esthetics of the nostrils were assessed according to the left–right nostril symmetry, as measured by the Hausdorff distance, area ratio, perimeter ratio, and aspect a/u (the aspect ratio of the affected side)/(the aspect ratio of the unaffected side) ratio. In addition, the inclination of the nasal ridge was assessed using anthropometric measurements (Grc‐Grn∠midline and midline∠columellar axis).

Results

The area ratio, perimeter ratio, and Grc‐Grn∠midline were significantly greater in the nasoalveolar molding group immediately after surgery (p = 0.00062, 0.016, and 0.048, respectively) than in the control group. However, the Hausdorff distance and aspect a/u ratio were more favorable (p = 0.0018 and 0.0039, respectively) in the nasoalveolar molding group after 7 months.

Conclusions

The results of our study suggested that using nasoalveolar molding as a presurgical orthopedic treatment could improve the shape of the nasal cartilage with surgeon's corrections.

Effect of Cleft Width on the Outcome of Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding in Patients With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term effects of presurgical nasoalveolar molding (PNAM) according to cleft width (CW) in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). In this retrospective study, 32 newborns with nonsyndromic UCLP treated with PNAM were allocated to 2 groups based on CW (group A, CW ≤5 mm; and group B, CW >5 mm). The following measurements were carried out using standardized photographs taken before and after PNAM therapy (before primary lip surgery): nostril axis inclination of healthy (NAI-NC) and cleft sides (NAI-C), columellar angle (CA), nasal base inclination (NBI), nasal floor width ratio (NFWR), alar base height ratio (ABHR), and columellar length ratio. Before PNAM therapy, there were significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to NAI-C, NBI, NFWR, and ABHR, indicating greater deformation of the nose in group B. After PNAM therapy, CA, NAI-C, NAI-NC, NFWR, and columellar length ratio were significantly improved in both the groups, whereas NBI and ABHR significantly worsened in group B. The improvement in CA, NAI-C, and NFWR was significantly greater in group B. Although a larger CW had some negative effects on the outcome of PNAM, it was found to be advantageous for nasal symmetry, if initiated as early as possible. Nevertheless, it is important to consider those aspects of the nasolabial area that are involved in the perception of symmetry when evaluating the effect of CW on PNAM outcomes in UCLP.

Three-Dimensional Morphological Changes of the True Cleft under Passive Presurgical Orthopaedics in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: A Retrospective Cohort Study

The aim of this cohort study was to quantify the morphological changes in the palatal cleft and true cleft areas with passive plate therapy using a new analysis method based on three-dimensional standardized reproducible landmarks. Forty-five casts of 15 consecutive patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate were laser scanned and investigated retrospectively. The landmarks and the coordinate system were defined, and the interrater and intrarater measurement errors were within 1.0 mm. The morphological changes of the cleft palate area after a period of 8 months of passive plate therapy without prior lip surgery are presented graphically. The median decrease in cleft width was 38.0% for the palatal cleft, whereas it was 44.5% for the true cleft. The width of the true and palatal cleft decreased significantly over a period of 8 months. The true cleft area decreased by 34.7% from a median of 185.4 mm² (interquartile range, IQR = 151.5-220.1) to 121.1 mm² (IQR = 100.2-144.6). The palatal cleft area decreased by 31.5% from a median of 334 mm² (IQR = 294.9-349.8) to 228.8 mm². The most important clinical considerations are the reproducibility and reliability of the anatomical points, as well as the associated morphological changes. We propose using the vomer edge to establish a validated measuring method for the width, area, and height of the true cleft.

Three-dimensional evaluation of alveolar changes induced by nasoalveolar molding in infants with unilateral cleft lip and palate: A case-control study

Objective

The objectives of this study were to evaluate linear and volumetric alveolar changes induced by nasoalveolar molding (NAM) in infants with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and compare the maxillary dimensions after NAM with the normal dimensions in infants without clefts.

Methods

A total of 26 infants with UCLP treated by NAM (mean age before and after NAM: 14.20 ± 8.09 days and 118.16 ± 10.06 days, respectively) comprised the treatment group, while 26 infants without clefts (mean age: 115.81 ± 8.71 days) comprised the control group. Changes in the maxillary dimensions following NAM were measured on three-dimensional models using Mimics software, version 17.0.

Results

During NAM, there was a decrease in the cleft widths, maxillary arch depths, and rotation of the greater segment. While the anterior alveolar arch width exhibited a significant decrease, the posterior arch width was mostly maintained. There were no changes in the anterior vertical deviations of the alveolar segments. The alveolar crest lengths, arch circumference, and bilateral posterior volumetric measures exhibited an increase. After NAM, the anterior arch width was comparable between the treatment and control groups, whereas the posterior arch width and anterior vertical deviations were greater in the treatment group than in the control group. The maxillary arch depths, alveolar crest lengths, and maxillary volumes were smaller in the NAM group than in the control group.

Conclusions

During NAM in infants with UCLP, the cleft width and anteroposterior and transverse alveolar dimensions exhibited a decrease while the vertical dimensions were maintained. Compared with infants without clefts, those with UCLP treated by NAM exhibited sagittal and vertical alveolar growth deficiencies and tissue insufficiency.

[Varying width ratio patterns of posterior hard palate cleft to posterior maxillary tuberosity plane in cleft palate]

OBJECTIVE

The varying width ratio patterns of posterior hard palate cleft to posterior maxillary tuberosity plane and their relationship with growth and development were studied in specific-age patients with simple cleft palate before surgery to provide a reference for evaluating operation difficulty and predetermining operative period.

METHODS

A total of 581 patients with simple cleft palate who received surgical treatment and are aged 8 months to 38 years participated in this study. All patients were categorized into seven groups based on age at preoperative measurement. The widths of posterior maxillary tuberosity plane and hard palate cleft were selected from the preoperative direct measurements. The relative width ratio of the hard palate to posterior maxillary tuberosity plane in each patient was used to objectively reflect the relative width of cleft palate.

RESULTS

For patients with simple cleft palate, the widths of posterior maxillary tuberosity plane and hard palate showed remarkably increasing trends.

CONCLUSIONS

The transverse proportion of cleft palate fissure in the upper mandible increases statistically with age, suggesting the need for complex operation.

Effectiveness of presurgical nasoalveolar molding therapy on unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of pre-surgical nasoalveolar molding (PNAM) in patients with unilateral cleft lip nasal deformities. Methods: This was a retrospective study involving 29 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate defects, of whom 13 were treated with palatal devices with nasal stents (PNAM group) and 16 were treated with palatal devices without nasal stents or surgical tapes (control group). Submental oblique photographs and orthodontic models were longitudinally obtained at the initial visit (T1) and immediately before (T2) and  after cheiloplasty (T3). Asymmetry of the external nose, degree of columellar shifting, nasal tip/ala nose ratio, nasal base angle, interalveolar gap, and the sagittal difference in the alveolar gap were measured. The study was conducted in the Orthodontic Clinic at Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima, Japan between 1997 and 2012. Results: At T1, there were no significant intergroup differences in the first 4 asymmetry parameters. At T2, the PNAM group showed a significant improvement in all values compared to the control group. At T3, the PNAM group showed significant improvement in nasal asymmetry and columellar shifting. Model analysis showed significantly greater changes in the inter-alveolar gap and the sagittal difference of the alveolar cleft gap from T1 to T2 in the PNAM group. Conclusion: The use of PNAM is indispensable for pre-surgical orthodontic treatment at the early postnatal age.

Effects of pre-surgical nasoalveolar moulding on maxillary arch and nasal form in unilateral cleft lip and palate before lip surgery

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of pre-surgical nasoalveolar moulding (PNAM) on the maxillary arch and nasal form in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).

SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION

This is a retrospective case series study. The subjects were infants with complete UCLP who were treated with PNAM (n = 18) at Kagoshima University Medical and Dental Hospital (Japan) between 2006 and 2013.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Maxillary dental casts and facial photographs were taken at the time of the first visit and immediately prior to lip surgery to evaluate the maxillary arch and nasal form changes. The dental casts were scanned with a laser scanner, and changes in the 3-Dimensional coordinates of anatomical landmarks and alveolar cleft width were analysed. Moreover, we investigated the correlation between the changes in the maxillary alveolar arch and nasal form.

RESULTS

Regarding the maxillary alveolar arch form, the anterior points of the major segment had moved significantly to the cleft side just prior to the time of lip repair, and the alveolar cleft width was significantly decreased. For nasal form, the inclination and displacement of the columella were significantly improved. The improvement of columella inclination was moderately correlated with the posterior movement of the anterior points of the major segment.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that PNAM for infants with UCLP enhanced symmetry in the maxillary alveolar arch and nasolabial form. In addition, the posterior movement of the anterior points of the maxillary alveolar arch was correlated with the improvement of columella deformation.

Correlation between Nasoalveolar Molding and Surgical, Aesthetic, Functional and Socioeconomic Outcomes Following Primary Repair Surgery: a Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

The authors performed a systematic review to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of the nasoalveolar molding appliance on nonsyndromic unilateral clefts of the lip and/or palate prior to primary lip repair.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A literature search was performed using three electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science) and three journals ("Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal", "Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal" and "American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedic") from January 1980 to April 2017. Data extraction was performed with tables treating different subjects: surgical, aesthetical, functional, socio-economical effects of nasoalveolar molding (NAM) appliances and the evolution of NAM appliances, especially three-dimensional technology.

RESULTS

Of the 145 articles retrieved in the literature surveys, 28 were qualified for the final analysis and 20 studies were excluded because of their small sample size (less than 10 patients) and/or too long follow-up (exceeded 18 months). Four randomized controlled trials were available. Although literature allowed discussing the short-term benefits of NAM appliance and the three-dimensional technology, scientific evidence is lacking.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results, nasoalveolar molding appliances have positive surgical, aesthetical, functional and socio-economical effects on unilateral clefts of the lip and/or palate treatment before the primary repair surgeries. Three-dimensional technology results in a more efficient and predictable nasoalveolar molding appliance treatment. However, nasoalveolar molding appliance effect in a short term remains unclear with the available literature. Further studies that integrate three-dimensional technology in a large scale are still needed.