title: Comparative outcomes of two nasoalveolar molding techniques for unilateral cleft nose deformity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nasoalveolar molding is increasingly being used to treat unilateral cleft nose deformity before primary repair. The Grayson technique starts nasal molding when an alveolar gap is reduced to 5 mm, whereas the Figueroa technique performs nasal and alveolar molding at the same time. The authors investigated the comparative efficacy, efficiency, and incidence of complications of the two techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  A blinded, retrospective study was conducted on 63 patients with complete unilateral cleft lip-cleft palate; 31 underwent the Grayson nasoalveolar molding and 32 underwent the Figueroa nasoalveolar molding. Pretreatment and posttreatment facial photographs and clinical charts were used to compare efficacy (nostril height ratio, nostril width ratio, columellar angle), efficiency (molding frequency), and incidence of complications (facial irritation, mucosal ulceration).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Grayson and Figueroa techniques did not differ in treatment efficacy for nostril height ratio (0.86 ± 0.09 versus 0.85 ± 0.09; p > 0.05) and columellar angle (84.0 ± 4.5 degrees versus 85.3 ± 2.6 degrees; p > 0.05). Although the Grayson technique was more effective for reducing nostril width ratio (1.21 ± 0.29 versus 1.27 ± 0.19, p = 0.05), it was less efficient (i.e., required more adjustments) (10.9 ± 2.5 versus 8.8 ± 1.9; p < 0.001) and had a higher incidence of mucosal ulceration (23 percent versus 3 percent; p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The two nasoalveolar molding techniques differed in efficacy, efficiency, and incidence of complications in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip-cleft and palate. Understanding these differences may help surgeons and orthodontists improve outcome expectations and consultations with patients' families.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, III.
authors.affiliation: Taoyuan, Linkou, and Taipei, Taiwan From the Craniofacial Center and the Craniofacial Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital; the College of Medicine, Chang Gung University; the Department of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital; the Department of Craniofacial Orthodontics; and the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.
authors.forename: Yu-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Yuh-Jia
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: I-Ju
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-Ching
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Philip Kuo-Ting
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000002:abnormalities*; D009968:Orthodontic Appliances, Removable; D010781:Photography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome