Asymmetries of the Upper Lip and Nose in Noncleft and Postsurgical Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Individuals

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate post-surgical asymmetries of the upper lip and nose in complete unilateral cleft lip and palate individuals using documentation collected over a period of years. Twenty-three complete unilateral cleft lip and palate subjects (UCLP) and 34 noncleft subjects who served as controls and had undergone orthodontic treatment were included in the study. Nasal asymmetry, deviation of the tip of the nose, and the deviation of the midpoint of the vermilion border of the upper lip were compared to chronologic age and skeletal maturation in cleft subjects and controls. Comparison between cleft and control cases was also assessed. Results indicate that nasal asymmetry peaks at postpubertal growth stages in the control groups, and the difference between UCLP and controls decreases with time and maturation. The deviation of the nasal tip peaks during the pubertal growth spurt for both UCLP and controls, and the difference between UCLP and controls also decreases with time. The deviation of the midpoint of the vermilion border shows relatively small change with time and maturation, and there is no significant difference between UCLP and controls. In general, the facial asymmetries studied were not as great as expected, and the difference between UCLP and controls decreased with time, growth, and maturation.