Indiacran: An Inter-Center Study of Nasolabial Esthetics Outcomes in Patients With Repaired Complete Unilateral Cleft...

ObjectiveTo evaluate the nasolabial aesthetic outcomes in patients aged 8 to 14 with nonsyndromic, repaired complete unilateral cleft lip and palate.DesignRetrospective study.SettingTen Comprehensive Cleft Care Centers (Smile Train) across India.SubjectsA sample of 400 patients treated at the 10 centers (40 each) with repaired complete unilateral cleft lip and palate were included.MethodsAfter obtaining ethical approval, frontal and profile photographs of patients before any orthodontic treatment were scanned, cropped, and coded to show the nose and upper lip. Using the coded photographs, 4 nasolabial features for aesthetics (ie, nasal symmetry, nasal form, vermilion border, and nasolabial profile) were rated by 3 examiners using Asher McDade's rating system. Interrater and intrarater reliabilities were determined using Cronbach's alpha values. Mean ratings of all centers were compared using a one-way analysis of variance.ResultsThe total nasolabial scores of various centers were significantly varied, ranging from 2.89 to 3.47. The best nasolabial esthetics score for Center A. Cronbach's alpha values for interrater reliability are as follows: nasal form: 0.876, nasal symmetry: 0.742, vermillion border: 0.799, and nasolabial profile: 0.844, demonstrating good to excellent reliability.ConclusionAlthough these centers used different protocols, the nasolabial esthetics outcomes were good to fair for all 10 cleft care centers. The total score of nasolabial esthetics amongst centers is significantly different.