Skeletal asymmetries of the nasomaxillary complex in noncleft and postsurgical unilateral cleft lip and palate individuals

Asymmetries in the nasomaxillary skeleton are very common in individuals with unilateral cleft lip and palate. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate postsurgical asymmetries of the nasomaxillary skeleton in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients. Included in this study were 36 complete cleft lip and palate subjects, along with 36 noncleft (control) subjects. Skeletal asymmetry, deviations of the anterior nasal spine, and the premaxillary area were compared by chronologic age and skeletal maturation in cleft subjects and controls. Comparison between cleft and control cases was assessed. Results indicated that skeletal asymmetry in unilateral clefts and controls peaks during the pubertal growth spurt. The anterior nasal spine and nasal septum always tend to deviate toward the noncleft side of the nasal cavity, although individual variation exists. Cleft subjects were found to be more asymmetric than noncleft subjects to a statistically significant degree.