Quantitative results of the analysis of nasal parameters corresponding to the work "Impact of nasoalveolar molding on long-term outcomes in adolescents with unilateral cleft lip and palate"

This database corresponds to the measurements obtained from adolescent patients born with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) previously subjected or not to nasoalveolar molding treatment. Details are explained in the manuscript "Impact of nasoalveolar molding on long-term outcomes in adolescents with unilateral cleft lip and palate", whose abstract is shown here:

Background: nasoalveolar molding (NAM) has been described as a potential technique able to improve the results of current treatment of children affected by unilateral cleft and lip palate (UCLP). However, the long-term results obtained when patients reach adolescence have been seldom reported. Objectives: to determine the effects of NAM on the final outcome of patients with UCLP previously treated with conventional treatment (non-NAM group) or with conventional treatment and NAM (NAM group) when facial growth has concluded or is approaching completion. Material and methods: 12 morphological parameters of nasal symmetry were analyzed in each group of patients using previously-validated scales that include 7 linear parameters and 5 angular parameters, whereas the final aesthetic appearance of these patients was evaluated using the Asher-McDade scale. Results were compared between the NAM and non-NAM group. Results: results showed significant differences for 11 out of the 12 morphological parameters analyzed, including Nasal Alar Projection Length (NAPL), Nasal Dome Height (NDH), Alar Base Width (ABW), Nostril Height (NH), Mediolateral Nasal Dome Position (M-L NDP), and Vertical Alar Height (VAH), Columellar Deviation (CD), Nasal Bridge Deviation (NBD), Cupid's Bow Deviation (CBD), Alar Cant Deviation (ACD), and Alar Height Angle (AHA), but differences were non-significant for the Superoinferior Alar Groove Position (S-I AGP). For the aesthetic variables, significant differences were found for the nasal deviation, but not for nasal form and profile. Conclusions: these results support the use of NAM in the management of patients with UCLP. NAM demonstrated to improve the long-term results of the treatment of these patients, thus contributing to obtaining a more physiological structure of the nose, and a more favorable final aesthetic outcome, although some parameters still need to be improved.