Lateral cephalometric measurements of Iranians with surgically repaired unilateral cleft lips and palates

Since results of surgical correction of unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) are controversial, and there is no study in this regard among Iranians, this study was conducted to document lateral cephalometric measurements of such cases, with respect to age, gender, and cleft side.

In this cross-sectional study, 45 lateral cephalographs of individuals with UCLP who had undergone surgery but not orthodontic treatment were traced and 30 skeletal, dental and soft-tissue cephalometric measurements were measured. Parameters were compared between patients with UCLP and cephalometric norms. They were also compared between males and females, two age groups (≤8 and>8 years), and sides of cleft using the Student's t-test.

Only S-N-Pog and U1-SN values were significantly different between this sample and cephalometric norms. The variables were not significantly different between males and females. However, the values of ANB, Wits appraisal, Go-Gn, Go-Pog, U1-SN, interincisal angle, distance of upper lip to Ricketts E-line, and nasopharyngeal depth were significantly different between patients≤8 and>8 years (P<0.05). The S-N-Pog angle, Wits appraisal, Go-Gn, Go-Pog, U1-SN, interincisal angle and hypopharyngeal depth were significantly different between patients with right- and left-side clefts (P<0.05).

Measurements of patients with repaired UCLP were similar to cephalometric norms except for two parameters.