Assessment of crista galli morphology and morphometry in individuals with cleft lip and palate: A three‐dimensional analysis

Objective The crista galli (CG), located in the anterior cranial fossa and associated with the cranial structures here, is a bony prominence on the ethmoid bone. In this study, we aimed to examine the anatomical variations and pneumatization status of the CG in individuals with cleft lip and palate (CLP) and to compare them with those of individuals without CLP. Material and methods Data from 16‐ to 25‐year‐old individuals with non‐syndromic cleft lip and palate and control individuals without any syndrome or disease who underwent cone beam computed tomography were used. Measurement of the CG height (superoinferior, on the coronal section), width (laterolateral, on the axial section), and length (anteroposterior, on the axial section) dimensions. In addition, a categorical evaluation of CG morphology, CG pneumatization, olfactory fossa depth, and position of the CG in the ethmoid area (Keros classification) was performed. Results Although the superoinferior diameter and laterolateral diameter values of the CG did not differ between the groups, the anteroposterior diameter values were found to be significantly ( p = 0.047) lower in individuals with CLP (11.95 ± 2.57 mm) compared with control (13.23 ± 2.05 mm). There was no difference in the morphology or pneumatization status of the CG between the groups. Conclusion Except for the anteroposterior length, there was no difference in CG morphometric measurements between individuals with CLP and control. The anteroposterior length was shorter in individuals with CLP.