Effect of primary correction of nasal septal deformity in complete unilateral cleft lip and palate on the craniofacial morphology.

PURPOSE: To assess the long-term effect of primary correction of the nasal septum during lip repair in unilateral complete cleft lip and palate on the craniofacial morphology. MATERIAL, SUBJECTS, METHODS: The study material consisted of 54 lateral cephalograms made at the ages 7-22, including 28 cephalograms of patients from a study group (aged 7-14 years) after a primary correction of the nasal septum during lip closure and 26 cephalograms of patients from a control group (aged 12-22 years) operated on without septal correction. All cephalograms have been analysed with regard to skeletal, dental and soft-tissue relationships. Data distribution has been checked using Shapiro-Wilk test (alpha = 0.05). Student t-test was used to compare values of normal distribution and for the latter - Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: The comparison of all cephalometric values between the study and control groups revealed a statistically significant (alpha = 0.05) difference only for H (p = 0.0267), 1+: NB angle (p = 0.0175) and 1+: NA (mm) (p = 0.0249). Each of the three cephalometric measurements mentioned were greater in the study than in the control group. CONCLUSION: No negative effect from the primary nasal septum correction on maxillary development could be found in the study group.