Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 20, 2025
Quantification of Orofacial Phenotypes in Xenopus
Published on: November 6, 2014
Comparison of Transverse Craniofacial Dimensions Between Growing Individuals With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate and
Hande Gorucu-Coskuner1, Ezgi Atik1, Bengisu Akarsu-Guven1
1Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, 37515Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Objective:
The study aimed to assess the transverse craniofacial dimensions of patients (age, 7-14 years) with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), compare these dimensions with those of noncleft individuals, and identify the correlations between the nasal and maxillary transverse widths of patients with UCLP.
Design:
A cross-sectional study.
Participants:
Eighty patients operated on for complete UCLP (UCLP group; 35 girls, 45 boys; median age: 10.7 [7.9-14] years) and 80 age- and sex-matched noncleft individuals (control group; 35 girls, 45 boys; median age: 10.7 [7.3-14] years).
Interventions:
Interorbital, bizygomatic, nasal, maxillary skeletal, maxillary molar, mandibular molar, and antegonial width measurements were performed using posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs. Intergroup comparisons were conducted by using the independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Correlation between the variables was examined using Pearson correlation analysis.
Results:
The bizygomatic, maxillary skeletal and molar, mandibular molar, and antegonial widths in the UCLP group were significantly less than those in the control group (P < .05). A positive correlation was found between the maxillary skeletal and nasal widths (r = 0.550, P < .001) and between the maxillary molar and nasal widths (r = 0.560, P < .001).
Conclusions:
In individuals with UCLP, the bizygomatic, maxillary skeletal and molar, mandibular molar, and antegonial widths were significantly less than those in noncleft individuals. As the maxillary skeletal and dental widths presented a positive correlation with the nasal width, a decrease in nasal width must be considered when maxillary constriction is noted.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Sutures of the Skull
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
01:27Cranial Bones: Lateral View
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
02:20Longitudinal Research