ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the volume, area, and dimensions of the oropharyngeal airway (OPA) in a previously repaired nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) versus bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) patients when compared with noncleft controls using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). DESIGN: This was a retrospective case-control study. SETTING: The Cleft Care Center and outpatient clinic that are affiliated to our faculty were the settings for the study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 58 CBCT scans were selected of preadolescent individuals: 14 BCLP, 20 UCLP, and 24 age- and gender-matched noncleft controls. VARIABLES: Variables were volume, cross-sectional area (CSA), midsagittal area (MSA), and dimensions of OPA. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: One-way analysis of variance and post hoc tests were used to compare variables. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ .05. RESULTS: UCLP showed significantly smaller superior oropharyngeal airway volume than both controls and BCLP ( P ≤ .05). BCLP showed significantly larger CSA at soft palate plane and significantly larger MSA than both UCLP and controls ( P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: UCLP patients at the studied age and stage of previously repaired clefts have significantly less superior oropharyngeal airway volume than both controls and BCLP patients. This confirms that preadolescents with UCLP are at greater risk for superior oropharyngeal airway obstruction when compared with those BCLP and controls. Furthermore, BCLP patients showed significantly larger CSA at soft palate plane and MSA than both controls and UCLP patients. These variations in OPA characteristics of cleft patients can influence function in terms of respiration and vocalization.
Subject(s)
Cleft Lip/diagnostic imaging , Cleft Palate/diagnostic imaging , Cone-Beam Computed Tomography/methods , Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods , Oropharynx/abnormalities , Oropharynx/diagnostic imaging , Case-Control Studies , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the nasopharyngeal airway volume, cross-sectional area, and depth in previously repaired nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate versus bilateral cleft lip and palate patients compared with noncleft controls using cone-beam computed tomography with the ultimate goal of finding whether cleft lip and palate patients are more liable to nasopharyngeal airway obstruction. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis comparing bilateral cleft lip and palate, unilateral cleft lip and palate, and control subjects. Significance at P ≤ .05. SETTING: Cleft Care Center and the outpatient clinic that are both affiliated with our faculty. PARTICIPANTS: Cone-beam computed tomography data were selected of 58 individuals aged 9 to 12 years: 14 with bilateral cleft lip and palate and 20 with unilateral cleft lip and palate as well as 24 age- and gender-matched noncleft controls. VARIABLES: Volume, depth, and cross-sectional area of nasopharyngeal airway were measured. RESULTS: Patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate showed significantly larger nasopharyngeal airway volume than controls and patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (P < .001). Patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate showed significantly larger cross-sectional area than those with unilateral cleft lip and palate (P < .001) and insignificant cross-sectional area compared with controls (P > .05). Patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate showed significantly larger depth than controls and those with unilateral cleft lip and palate (P < .001). Patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate showed insignificant nasopharyngeal airway volume, cross-sectional area, and depth compared with controls (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate patients did not show significantly less volume, cross-sectional area, or depth of nasopharyngeal airway than controls. From the results of this study we conclude that unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate patients at the studied age and stage of repaired clefts are not more prone to nasopharyngeal airway obstruction than controls.
