Three-dimensional analysis of nasal symmetry following primary correction of unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity

Objective: To evaluate nasal symmetry using three-dimensional photogrammetry following primary tip rhinoplasty with or without an internal splint in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip/palate.

Design: We captured three-dimensional images of patients with unilateral complete cleft lip/palate who underwent nasolabial repair by rotation-advancement of the lip and primary tip rhinoplasty, either with or without an internal resorbable splint, and normal control subjects. We assessed nasal symmetry by identifying the plane of maximum symmetry and the root-mean-square deviation between native and reflected surfaces.

Patients/Participants: We imaged 38 controls and 38 subjects with repaired unilateral complete cleft lip/palate (20 with, 18 without an internal splint).

Results: Nasal asymmetry root-mean-square deviation clustered between 0.19 and 0.50 mm (median = 0.24 +/- 0.08 mm) for controls; whereas, those with repaired unilateral complete cleft lip/palate ranged from 0.4 to 1.5 mm (median = 0.75 +/- 0.40 mm). Although root-mean-square deviation ranges overlapped, patients with repaired unilateral complete cleft lip/palate had significantly greater asymmetry than controls (P <.001). We found no difference in asymmetry between patients with or without an internal splint (P = .5).

Conclusions: Three-dimensional photogrammetry was used to successfully compare symmetry among different patient and control groups. Although "normal'' nasal symmetry was attained in some patients following cleft lip/nasal repair, most had persistent asymmetry compared with normal controls. Placement of a resorbable internal splint did not improve symmetry in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip/palate.