Three-Dimensional Analysis of Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Nasal Deformity

A novel measurement system for assessing the nose in patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP)

Objective

The presented study shows a new and innovative method to determine nasal asymmetries in a simple way in patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) in order to plan corrective surgery.

Design

86 non-syndromic patients with cleft lip and palate were divided into 2 groups: a) patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate b) patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate.

Patients

follow-up of hospital records of 86 patients aged 2-18 years.

Main outcome

Based on standardised photos of the nose from 3 different directions, the nose symmetry was assessed. A new digital measurement system was used, which is integrated into proven clinical programmes. These were compared with a control group. In addition, a mirror fog test and a standardised questionnaire were used.

Result

The overall results showed a good symmetry of the nose postoperatively, as well as a high satisfaction of the patients and their parents. Profile and angle measurements showed a better result.

Conclusio

The presented measurement system and especially the Cleft Lip Component Symmetry Index (CLCSI) allows an individual and very effective assessment of the symmetry of the nose as well as a control of the growth in patients with CLP. The method is easy to apply in daily practice, even for untrained practitioners.

Evaluation of Facial Esthetics Following NAM Versus CAD/NAM in Infants With Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: A Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE

The aim is to compare the facial esthetics following nasoalveolar molding (NAM) versus computer-aided design NAM (CAD/NAM) in patients with bilateral cleft lip/palate (CLP).

DESIGN

The trial is a randomized comparative trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty infants with bilateral complete cleft lip and palate were recruited.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were randomized between NAM and CAD/NAM groups. The treatment steps described by Grayson were followed for the NAM group. In the CAD/NAM group, digitized maxillary models were made to create a series of modified virtual models, which were used to fabricate the molding plates using 3-dimensional printing technology. The nasal stents were then added to the intraoral plates following the Grayson method. The study lasted for 4 months.

MAIN OUTCOMES

The assessment of the changes observed in the interlabial gap and nasolabial esthetics was done using standardized 2-dimensional photographs. The correlation between dental arch changes and extraoral facial esthetics was studied.

RESULTS

Both modalities showed improvement in nasolabial esthetics before the lip surgery. No statistically significant difference was found between NAM and CAD/NAM groups in any of the assessed variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Both interventions were effective in the management of infants with bilateral CLP.

Correction of Cleft Lip Nose Deformity With Circular Shape Alar Graft and Block Costal Cartilage

BACKGROUND

Secondary deformities of the cleft lip and nose are mainly caused by the long period of craniofacial development and the secondary scarring. Correction of the secondary cleft lip-nose deformity is a complex process that requires both the correction of the soft tissue and skeletal support. The purpose of this study was to present our experience in correcting the secondary unilateral cleft lip-nose deformities with autologous costal cartilage.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent correction of unilateral cleft nasal deformity with simultaneous rhinoplasty by a senior surgeon from January 2015 to January 2022 was conducted. Preoperative and postoperative measurements of the columellar-labial angle and the inclination of nasal base were conducted to evaluate the surgical outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 54 patients were included in this study according to the inclusion criteria. The mean follow-up period was 4 years (range, 1-7 years). The mean values of the columellar-labial angle were 91.1 ± 9.2 degrees preoperatively and 101.0 ± 5.9 degrees postoperatively. The mean values of the inclination of nasal base were 4.5 ± 1.2 degrees preoperatively and 0.9 ± 0.4 degrees postoperatively. There was a considerable increase in the columellar-labial angle after the surgery (9.9 ± 6.0 degrees; P < 0.01). The inclination of nasal base decreased significantly (3.6 ± 1.1 degrees; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our approach on correction the secondary clef lip nose through repositioning the muscles by Z-plasty and application of the block cartilage graft and circular shape alar graft has achieved long-term satisfactory results.

Trends of rhinoplasty research in the last decade with bibliometric analysis

Background

As rhinoplasty (RP) with different requirements is becoming more and more popular in the latest decade, this study aims to quantitatively and qualitatively explore the trends in RP research, depict research hotspots, and point out the future direction with a bibliometric analysis.

Methods

All RP literature studies in the last decade (from 2012 to 2021) were retrieved from the Web of Science Core database. Annual output, institutions, authors, journals, and most-cited literature studies were analyzed by bibliometric tools, including CiteSpace, bibliometric online platform, bibliometrix R language kit, BICOMB, and gCLUTO.

Results

A total of 2,590 RP research studies dated between 2012 and 2021 were included according to our criterion. As for the country, the United States, Turkey, and Korea maintained the top three in RP research. As for the institutions, the University of California, Irvine, Stanford University, and University of Ulsan ranked top three in RP research publications based on article counts. Professor Rhorich RJ, Most SP, and Jang YJ were the most contributed authors according to article counts and citation number. The top journals were The Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, and Aesthetic Surgery Journal. The 10 most-cited literature studies were also listed explicitly in this study. Finally, biclustering analysis on the most frequent keywords were conducted which helped us to identify seven hotspot clusters in RP research.

Conclusions

We comprehensively summarized the publication information of RP literature studies in the past decade, highlighted the current status and trends over time, and provide guidance for in-depth research direction on RP for the future.

Three-Dimensional Nasolabial Changes After Nasoalveolar Molding and Primary Lip/Nose Surgery in Infants With Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

OBJECTIVE

Utilize 3-dimensional (3D) photography to evaluate the nasolabial changes in infants with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) who underwent nasoalveolar molding (NAM) and primary reconstructive surgery.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective serial longitudinal study of consecutively enrolled infants from September 2012 to July 2016 with BCLP who underwent NAM before primary lip and nose reconstructive surgery. It included infants who had digital 3dMD stereophotogrammetry records at initial presentation (T1), completion of NAM (T2), and 3 weeks following primary repair (T3). Twelve infants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. 3dMD Vultus software was used to orient images and plot 16 nasolabial points with x, y, z coordinates to obtain the linear and angular measurements. Nasal form changes were measured and analyzed between T1 (0.5 months old), T2 (5 months old), and T3 (6 months old). Intraclass correlation coefficient was performed for intrarater reliability. Averaged data from the 3D images was statistically analyzed from T1 to T2 and T2 to T3 with Wilcoxon tests. Unaffected infant norms from the Farkas publication were used as a control sample.

RESULTS

After NAM therapy, statistically significant changes in the position of subnasale and labius superius improved nasolabial symmetry. Both retruded after NAM were displaced downward after NAM and surgical correction with respect to soft tissue nasion. The nasal tip's projection was maintained with NAM and surgical correction. The columella lengthened from 1.4 to 4.71 mm following NAM.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significant improvement in the nasolabial anatomy after NAM, and this was further enhanced after primary reconstructive surgery.