title: Comparative Assessment of the Cleft Profile by Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate, Cleft Surgeons, and Lay People.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This cross-sectional study aimed to compare subjective assessments among patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP), cleft surgeons, and lay people regarding the soft tissue lateral profile of CLP patients. We also investigated the correlations between subjective assessments and photogrammetric measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 150 CLP patients who wished to have treatment for their unattractive appearance were randomly selected. A standard lateral profile color photograph was taken. Panels of three cleft surgeons, ten CLP patients, and ten lay people were selected to be assessors. They rated nasal tip projection, nasolabial esthetics, upper and lower lip esthetics, and the profile for each photograph. Three angular measurements (nasal prominence angle, nasolabial angle, and lip angle) were measured for each photograph. Kendall's coefficient of concordance and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kendall's coefficient of concordance of nasal tip projection, nasolabial esthetics, upper and lower lip esthetics, and the profile were 0.734, 0.683, 0.828, and 0.747, respectively (p < 0.001). Lip angle was associated with the profile scores for cleft surgeons and CLP patients (p < 0.001). The nasal prominence angle and lip angle were associated with the profile scores for lay people (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CLP patients, cleft surgeons, and lay people have similar attitudes to the appearance of CLP patients. Upper and lower lip esthetics is associated with the assessment of the cleft profile that is provided by CLP patients, cleft surgeons, and lay people. In addition, nasal tip projection is another determining factor for lay people.
  
  
  METHODS
  This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
authors: First Clinical Division, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, 37A Xishiku Street, Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100034, China.
authors: Tian
authors: T
authors: Meng
authors: Lian
authors: L
authors: Ma
authors: Zhi
authors: Z
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D004954:Esthetics; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010781:Photography; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult