Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nasoalveolar Molding in the Management of Children with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: A Cohort Study

Background: Children affected by unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) represent a therapeutic challenge requiring the development of novel therapies, such as the implant of a bioengineered tissue—BIOCLEFT—or the use of nasoalveolar molding (NAM). The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of NAM on the surgical and aesthetic outcomes of children with UCLP. Methods: A total of 36 children with UCLP treated at a craniofacial malformations management unit were evaluated, including 23 patients treated with presurgical NAM followed by palate surgical correction (NAM group) and 13 patients treated surgically without previous NAM (non-NAM group). Measurements were obtained from each patient immediately before palate surgery, including four linear measurements: nasal ala projection length (NAPL), nasal dome height (NDH), superoinferior alar groove position (S-I AGP), and nasal dome position (M-L NDP), and two angular measurements: columellar deviation (CD) and nasal bridge deviation (NBD). Results: When NAM was used, a significant improvement of the basilar view linear measurements of the patient’s nose was found, including the NAPL and NDH, and the frontal view linear measurement M-L NDP, but not S-I AGP. Significant improvements were also observed in the angular measurements of nasal symmetry CD and NBD. All these variables, except the S-I AGP, significantly correlated with the treatment group, and two variables—NAPL and CD—significantly contributed to generate a predictive model developed using binary logistic regression. Conclusions: These findings support the use of NAM to efficiently improve the nasal symmetry and the presurgical outcomes of patients with UCLP.