S. Kyrkanides et al., ASYMMETRIES OF THE UPPER LIP AND NOSE IN NONCLEFT AND POSTSURGICAL UNILATERAL CLEFT-LIP AND PALATE INDIVIDUALS, The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal, 33(4), 1996, pp. 306-311
The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate post-surgica
l asymmetries of the upper lip and nose in complete unilateral cleft l
ip and palate individuals using documentation collected over a period
of years. Twenty-three complete unilateral cleft lip and palate subjec
ts (UCLP) and 34 noncleft subjects who served as controls and had unde
rgone orthodontic treatment were included in the study. Nasal asymmetr
y, deviation of the tip of the nose, and the deviation of the midpoint
of the vermilion border of the upper lip were compared to chronologic
age and skeletal maturation in cleft subjects and controls, Compariso
n between clef end control Gases was also assessed. Results indicate t
hat nasal asymmetry peaks at postpubertal growth stages in the control
groups, and the difference between UCLP and controls decreases with t
ime and maturation, The deviation of the nasal tip peaks during the pu
bertal growth spurt for both UCLP and controls, and the difference bet
ween UCLP and controls also decreases with time, The deviation of the
midpoint of the vermilion border shows relatively small change with ti
me and maturation, and there is no significant difference between UCLP
and controls, In general, the facial asymmetries studied were not as
great as expected, and the difference between UCLP and controls decrea
sed with time, growth, and maturation.