Three-Dimensional Evaluation of Nasolabial Morphology After Applying Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding in Primary Unilateral Cheiloplasty Using the Modified Millard Technique

OBJECTIVE: To compare the soft tissue measurements of the upper lip and the nose on the cleft side and the noncleft side before surgery, immediately after cheiloplasty and two months after surgery. DESIGN: Descriptive clinical study with one group, prospective. SETTING: Department of Odonto-Stomatology, Children's Hospital 1, at Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam. PATIENTS: 31 patients with a unilateral complete cleft lip participated in this study, 30 patients were evaluated at the time two months after surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Interventions include PNAM and cheiloplasty by modified Millard technique. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients proceed to acquire 3D images of lips and nose, define landmarks and measure dimensions. There are 11 evaluators to be compared, p < 0.05 was considered statictical significance. RESULTS: After two months of surgery, on cleft side and noncleft side, the lengths of the upper lip were 10.87 ± 0.80 and 11.92 ± 0.78 (mm), the widths of the upper lip were 16.06 ± 1.10 and 16.40 ± 1.02 (mm), the heights of the nostril were 4.85 ± 0.44 and 5.93 ± 0.43 (mm), the lengths of columella were 4.08 ± 0.37 and 4.93 ± 0.38 (mm), and the widths of the nostril were 9.07 ± 0.37 and 8.37 ± 0.40 (mm). CONCLUSION: Cheiloplasty by modified Millard technique on the patients who used PNAM showed that after two months of surgery, the morphology of the upper lip and nose has a slight disproportion with the nasolabial measurements of the cleft side being smaller than on the noncleft side.