[A clinical study of presurgical nasoalveolar molding in infants with complete cleft lip and palate].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the clinical effect of presurgical nasoalveolar molding in infants with complete cleft lip and palate.


METHODS
Presurgical nasoalveolar molding was performed in 38 infants with cleft lip and palate (26 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate, 12 patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate), aged between 5 and 30 days. The width of alveolar cleft was measured before and after the operation and the effect of treatment was assessed.


RESULTS
After 108 - 152 days of therapy, the average width of alveolar cleft decreased by 5.3 mm in 26 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate. Nasal profile was improved in 76 percent of cases. In 12 patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate, the average width of left cleft decreased by 4.7 mm and that of the right decreased by 4.2 mm. The distance between right and left cleft increased by 5.1 mm. Nasal profile was improved in 66 percent of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Presurgical nasoalveolar molding in complete cleft lip and palate can improve nasal profile and decrease the width of alveolar cleft.
Deng
Xi-he
XH
Department of Stomatology, The Affiliated Guangzhou Children's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510120, China. etyyrsk@126.com
Zhai
Jia-yu
JY
Jiang
Jie
J
Li
Fan
F
Pei
Xia
X
Wang
Hong-tao
HT
D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000473:pathology; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000379:methods*; D011300:Preoperative Care