A clinical study of presurgical nasoalveolar molding in infants with complete cleft lip and palate / 中华口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical effect of presurgical nasoalveolar molding in infants with complete cleft lip and palate.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Presurgical nasoalveolar molding was performed in 38 infants with cleft lip and palate (26 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate, 12 patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate), aged between 5 and 30 days. The width of alveolar cleft was measured before and after the operation and the effect of treatment was assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 108 - 152 days of therapy, the average width of alveolar cleft decreased by 5.3 mm in 26 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate. Nasal profile was improved in 76 percent of cases. In 12 patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate, the average width of left cleft decreased by 4.7 mm and that of the right decreased by 4.2 mm. The distance between right and left cleft increased by 5.1 mm. Nasal profile was improved in 66 percent of cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Presurgical nasoalveolar molding in complete cleft lip and palate can improve nasal profile and decrease the width of alveolar cleft.</p>