Symmetry of the Nose After Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding in Infants With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: A Preliminary Study

Objective: To assess nostril symmetry and alveolar cleft width in infants with unilateral cleft lip and palate following presurgical nasoalveolar molding (NAM). Sample and Methods: Fifty-seven newborn patients underwent presurgical nasoalveolar molding. Magnified basal view facial photos were taken at four different times: initial visit (T1), before cheiloplasty (T2), 1 month after cheilo-plasty (T3), and 1 year of age (T4). Direct measurements from the photos in-cluded: (1) nostril width on the affected and nonaffected side; (2) nostril height on the affected and nonaffected side; (3) columella—nasal base angle; and (4) width of the alveolar cleft. Nostril width and height data were used to calculate a ratio of affected to nonaffected side. Results: Effects of nasal symmetry after presurgical nasoalveolar molding were compared between the affected and nonaffected side. The nostril width ratio was 1.7, 1.2, 1.0, and 1.2 for T1 to T4. The nostril height ratio was 0.5, 0.8, 1.0, and 0.9 for T1 to T4. The angle of the columella was 53.38, 69.98, 91.28, an