Nasal Vestibular Expansion in UCLP: A 5- and 10-Year Cephalometric Study

Area of Science:

• Craniofacial surgery
• Pediatric dentistry
• Orthodontics

Background:

• Unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) presents complex challenges in facial development.
• Primary lip repair techniques aim to optimize both aesthetic and functional outcomes.
• The role of nasal vestibular expansion (NVE) in UCLP management remains an area of investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term effects of NVE during primary lip repair on hard and soft tissue development in UCLP patients.
• To compare cephalometric measurements between UCLP patients who underwent NVE and those who did not.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from UCLP patients.
• Inclusion of patients undergoing triangular-flap lip repair with and without NVE.
• Longitudinal lateral cephalometric analysis at 5 and 10 years of age.

Main Results:

• At 5 years, the NVE group showed smaller SNA and SNB angles but a larger overjet compared to the non-NVE group.
• No significant hard tissue differences were observed between groups at 10 years.
• NVE was associated with a reduced degree of reverse overjet in 5-year-olds.

Conclusions:

• NVE during primary lip repair does not appear to promote forward maxillary growth.
• NVE may influence the positioning of maxillary anterior teeth, leading to a less severe reverse overjet in early childhood.
• Further research is needed to fully understand the long-term implications of NVE on craniofacial development in UCLP.