Objective: To analyze the effects of presurgical nasoalveolar molding (PNAM) in newborns with cleft lip and palate and evaluate its postsurgical stability at 1-year follow-up using a nasal stent.
Design: Prospective clinical trial.
Setting: Department of Orthodontics, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Delhi.
Patients: Patients with cleft lip and palate of 0 to 6 months. Sample size 25 recruited, 16 satisfactorily completed the procedure.
Interventions: Presurgical nasoalveolar molding done as indicated in all the patients. Postsurgical external nasal stents were given for 1 year to maintain the nasal correction.
Main outcome measures: Changes in cleft defect and maxillary arch were recorded pre- and post-PNAM. Changes in nasal morphological parameters assessed pre- and post-PNAM and 1 year after surgical repair following the use of nasal stent.
Results: There was a significant reduction in cleft defect assessed both intraorally ( 4.16 mm) and extra orally ( 4.42 mm) at the end of PNAM therapy (average treatment time 4 months). The nasal morphology improved with an increase in columella height (1.5 mm) and reduction in columella width. Bialar width reduced (2.90 mm) with an increase in nostril height ( 2.10 mm). Better symmetry was achieved in all cases as the nostril height and width difference changed significantly pre- and post-nasoalveolar molding. The percentage increase in columella height was greater for infants less than 6 weeks.
Conclusions: Presurgical nasoalveolar molding considerably reduces the cleft gap and improves arch form making surgical union easier along with improved nasal morphology which can be maintained at 1-year postsurgery by use of a postsurgical external nasal stent.
Keywords: cleft lip and palate infants; columella lengthening; external nasal stent; nasoalveolar molding.