[Evaluation of internal nose deformation in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate]

The methods of assessment of nose deformation in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate have been presented. The study covered 45 patients with clefts, of 14-20 years of age who had undergone the infant surgery, and 45 patients at the same age serving as controls. The condition of nasal septum has been clinically examined in both groups and the nasal resistance has been measured by means of front and rear rhinomanometry. In the cleft group 80% of patients presented their cartilaginous septum deviated to the non-cleft side, and 85% had their bony septum deviated to the cleft side. In the cleft group, the front rhinomanometry revealed significantly higher resistance on the cleft side than on the non-cleft side and in controls. The rear rhinomanometry showed no significant differences in both groups, except the patients with clefts, who had been submitted to surgery with pharyngeal flap, in whom higher values of resistance had been found.