Abstract

CONTRERAS, Vicente et al. Morphological study of the inferior meatus in three planes in patients with operated unilateral clefts. Rev Esp Cirug Oral y Maxilofac [online]. 2011, vol.33, n.3, pp.105-108. ISSN 2173-9161.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1130-05582011000300002.

Objective: To compare the available inferior meatus area in three planes between operated unilateral cleft lip and palate patients and non-cleft patients. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study design. The study group consisted of 29 complete unilateral cleft patients between 5 and 17 years-old, attending San Borja Arriarán Hospital and the University of Chile's School of Dentistry. Twenty nine non-cleft patients on orthodontic treatment served as controls. The groups were matched by age and sex. The available inferior meatus area was defined as the anatomically available area in each meatus for airflow. This area was measured in each nasal fossa at different depths across the anteroposterior axis by cone-beam computed tomography. A mixed model regression for nested data was performed for data analysis. Results: The available inferior meatus area values in cleft patients were significantly smaller than those in controls, in all depths studied (P<.05). Conclusion: Complete unilateral cleft patients have less available area in each meatus for airflow than non-cleft patients in the same age range. This fact should be considered in the evaluation of the nasal deformity of these patients, with the aim of functionally improving the surgical results.

Keywords : Unilateral cleft; Breathing; Nasal deformity; Tomography.

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