title: Condylar and ramal vertical asymmetry in adolescent patients with cleft lip and palate evaluated with cone-beam computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this study were to evaluate condylar and ramal mandibular vertical asymmetry in a patient group affected by unilateral (UCLP) and bilateral (BCLP) cleft lip and palate, and to compare the findings with a well-matched control group with normal occlusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study groups included 20 UCLP patients (12 male, 8 female), 21 BCLP patients (12 male, 9 female), and a control group of 21 subjects with normal occlusion (10 male, 11 female). Measurements of condylar, ramal, and condylar plus ramal heights and asymmetry indexes were examined on cone-beam computed tomography images. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine potential statistical differences among the groups for condylar, ramal, and condylar plus ramal asymmetry index measurements. The post-hoc Tukey HSD test was used to determine individual differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No investigated group showed a statistically significant sex difference for any asymmetry index (P >0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the normal and cleft sides in the ramal height and ramal plus condylar height measurements in the UCLP group (P = 0.004 and P = 0.006, respectively). The Tukey HSD test showed a statistically significant difference between the UCLP and BCLP groups in terms of ramal asymmetry index values (P = 0.018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ramal height and ramal plus condylar height measurements were significantly lower in the cleft side in the UCLP patients, and there was a statistically significant difference in ramal asymmetry index values between the patients affected by UCLP and BCLP.
authors.affiliation: Associate professor, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey. Electronic address: mevlutcelikoglu@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mevlut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celikoglu
authors.forename: Koray
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Halicioglu
authors.forename: Suleyman K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Buyuk
authors.forename: Ahmet E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sekerci
authors.forename: Faruk I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Ucar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000254:growth & development; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*