Nasoalveolar molding and skeletal development in patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate: A retrospective cephalometric study at the completion of growth.

The aim of this retrospective long-term study was to assess the influence of primary columella lengthening and presurgical nasoalveolar molding (NAM) on the skeletal development at the completion of growth in patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP). Lateral cephalometric radiographs at the completion of growth of consecutively treated patients BCLP patients, operated by the same surgeon, who had undergone NAM were compared with a second group of BCLP patients who were not treated with NAM. The groups were matched for sex and age. Independent samples t tests were carried out. 23 Lateral cephalometric radiographs of BCLP patients (mean age 18.2 ± 1.3 years) who had undergone NAM were compared with a second group of 23 BCLP patients (mean age 18.4 ± 1.3 years) who were not treated with NAM. The only two significant differences were observed in Ans-Me/N-Me (control group = 0.6 ± 0.02; sample group = 0.57 ± 0.05; p = 0.019) and ILs^AnsPns (control group = 105.5 ± 7.9; sample group = 112.4 ± 8.6; p = 0.007). No other significant differences were observed in terms of facial skeletal development between the two groups. Presurgical NAM performed during infancy in BCLP patients does not seem to have negative effects on the skeletal development at the completion of craniofacial growth compared to the group of patients treated without NAM.