EFFECT OF PRESURGICAL NASOALVEOLAR MOLDING ON COLUMELLA LENGTH

Abstract

Introduction: Presurgical nasoalveolar molding is a procdure to minimze the extent of nasaoalveolar deformity prior to surgery in order to achieve more esthetic and stable post surgical results. This study was aimed to assess changes in collumellar length before and after presurgical nasoalveolar molding.

Materials and Method: This quasi-experimental study was carried out at Department of Orthodontics, Karachi Medical and Dental College Hospital. Duration of the study was six months. Study included 50 neonates. Selection criteria was 1) New born to 3 month-old. 2) Either sex. 3) Unilateral or bilateral CLP diagnosed by history and clinical examination on inspection. A proforma was used to record the extra-oral measurements of columellar length before and after nasoalveolar molding. SPSS 14.0 was used for statistical analyses

Results: There was a statistically significant increase in the columellar length shown by paired t test (P < 0.01) Conclusion: Infants show increase in columella length and improved nasal tip projection in unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate patients after PNAM.