ASYMMETRIES OF THE UPPER LIP AND NOSE IN NONCLEFT AND POSTSURGICAL UNILATERAL CLEFT-LIP AND PALATE INDIVIDUALS

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.