Measuring the Unilateral Cleft Lip Nasal Deformity: Lateral Deviation of Subnasale Is a Clinical and Morphologic Index of Unrepaired Severity

Objective: Objective measurement of pre-operative severity is important to optimize evidence-based practices given that the wide spectrum of presentation likely influences outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of objective measures of form with a subjective standard of cleft severity. Design: 3D images were ranked according to severity of nasal deformity by 7 cleft surgeons so that the mean rank could be used as the severity standard. Patients: 45 patients with unilateral cleft lip and 5 normal control subjects. Interventions: Each image was assessed using traditional anthropometric analysis, 3D landmark displacements, and shape-based analysis to produce 81 indices for each subject. Main Outcome: The correlation of objective measurements with the clinical severity standard. Results: Lateral deviation of subnasale from midline was the best predictor of severity (0.86). Other strongly-correlated anthropometric measurements included columellar angle, nostril width ratio, and lateral lip height ratio (0.72, 0.80, 0.79). Almost all shape-based measurements had tight correlation with the severity standard, however, dorsum deviation and point difference nasolabial symmetry were the most predictive (0.84, 0.82). Conclusions: Quantitative measures of severity transcend cleft type and can be used to grade clinical severity. Lateral deviation of subnasale was the best measure of severity and may be used as a surrogate of uncoupled premaxillary growth; it should be recorded as an index of pre-operative severity with every cleft lip repair. The correlation of other measures evaluated clarify treatment priorities and could potentially be used to grade outcomes.

Automated summary

The objective of this study was to determine the correlation of objective measures of form with a subjective standard of cleft severity. The results showed that the lateral deviation of subnasale from midline was the best predictor of severity. Other anthropometric measurements and shape-based measurements were also strongly correlated with the severity standard.