Background: Cleft lip with or without cleft palate is the most common congenital craniofacial anomaly. Presurgical nasoalveolar molding (PNAM) is a development in cleft care that allows for shaping and contouring of the lip and nose for easier closure. We aimed to evaluate the aesthetic outcomes and nasal symmetry after lip repair without nasoalveolar molding (NAM) in comparison with using PNAM prior to lip repair in unilateral cleft lip patients.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial was carried out on 20 patients with until lateral cleft lip, from 6 weeks to 2 years, non-syndromic patients. Using two stage surgery without NAM in a group of patients with unilateral cleft lip repair. Another group with presurgical NAM with single stage repair of unilateral cleft lip patients.
Results: Ratio nasal width, height measurements and alveolar gap measurements at S1, S2 and S3 were insignificantly different between both groups. Relapse occurred in 3 (30%) patients and not in 7 (70%) patients in the two-stage surgery group.
Conclusions: The study showed no difference in the aesthetic outcomes (Ratio nasal width and height measurements and alveolar gap measurements) between lip repair without NAM in comparison with using PNAM prior to lip repair in unilateral cleft lip patients.