Three-dimensional soft tissue evaluation in patient with cleft lip and palate

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study is to compare the soft tissue and craniofacial characteristic of individuals with nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip palate, bilateral cleft lip palate, skeletal Class I and skeletal Class III malocclusion using 3D facial imaging. Method: The entire study group consisted of a total of 158 patients aged 8-32 years. 53 of the patients have skeletal class I malocclusion, 54 of them have class III malocclusion, 29 of them have unilateral cleft lip palate and 22 of them have bilateral cleft lip palate. Lateral cephalometric radiographs and 3D stereophotogrammetry recordings of all patients were compared between the groups. Besides, comparison of the orthognathic surgery subgroups, comparison of symmetry in the unilateral cleft lip palate group and comparison of co-measurements of cephalometric analyzes and 3D analysis were performed. Results: While nasal deformities were not observed in Class III group, nose and upper lip deformities were common in cleft lip palate group. Upper lip projection was reduced in all three groups (p<0,05). The facial convexity angle was increased in Class III and cleft lip palate groups (p<0,05). The nasolabial angle decreased in Class III and unilateral cleft lip palate groups (p<0,05). Upper lip volume and paranasal volume were significantly decreased in the Class III and cleft lip palate groups (p<0.05). In the orthognathic surgery subgroups, the increased width of the nasal base compared to the Class III patients was noted in the patients with cleft lip palate (p<0,05). The comparison of cephalometric analysis with 3D soft tissue analyses showed that there were significant discrepancies in linear measurements. Conclusion: Patients with skeletal Class III or cleft lip palate anomalies showed significantly different soft tissue characteristics than Class patients. The use of 3D stereophotogrammetry for the examination of these differences has been considered as an easy and noninvasive method. It is also possible to perform volumetric measurements using this method.