The Soft Tissue Angular Analysis of Facial Profile in Unoperated Adult Patients with Unilateral Cleft Palate

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in facial profile development between unoperated adult cleft palate (UACP) patients and normal controls and to analyse the reasons for the differences.

Materials and methods: A total of 50 individuals with a unilateral cleft palate and 20 normal controls were selected to undergo angular measurement of their facial profiles. Data with significant differences between the two groups were analysed.

Results: Seven angle measurements of the facial profile showed that the mid-facial protrusion of the UACP patients had no significant differences from the control group (p > 0.05). But their angle of the medium face (N'-Trg-Sn) was significantly lower than the non-cleft controls (p < 0.05), suggesting a worse vertical development of the middle face. A significantly larger nasal tip angle (Cm-Sn/N'-Prn) for UACP patients suggested they had a rounder and blunter nasal tip (p < 0.05). The soft tissue facial angle and chin-lip angle of UACP patients had significant differences from non-cleft controls (p < 0.05), but the head position angle (Sn-Sm-THP) had no significant difference between two groups (p > 0.05), which suggested a steep mandibular plane for UACP patients but without severe retraction of the chin.

Conclusion: The development of facial protrusions in UACP patients is similar to that in normal adults, but the vertical development in the middle face is insufficient. Such hypoplasia may be related to the intrinsic deficiency of the maxilla. There is a tendency for flat nasal growth and insufficient development of the chin in UACP patients.

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Keywords: Angular analysis; Facial profile of soft tissue; Mid-face development; Unoperated adult cleft palate patient.