Evaluation of Soft Tissue Profile in Unilateral Cleft Lip-Palate Patients

Method: The study sample consisted of 67 patients (45 males and 22 females) divided into two groups. UCLP group consisted of 34 patients (23 males and 11 females, mean age of 14.1 years) and control group consisted of 33 patients (22 males and 11 females, mean age of 14.3 years) with no cleft formation and have skeletal Class I relationship. The groups were matched on age and sex. The soft tissue  profiles were evaluated on cephalograms. Fifty one different cephalometric parameters were measured. For statistical analysis, Mann-Whitney U test were used at p<0.05 level.

Result: In the UCLP group, upper lip was retrusive, upper lip thickness, lower alveolabial sulcus thickness were less pronounced and facial contur angle, H angle, lower face height, the ratio  between upper lip height  and lower lip height, upper lip length, and upper vermillion height were less than in the control group (p<0.05). In contrast, the UCLP patients showed significantly higher values in the prominence of the lower lip (p<0.05). The length and thickness of the lower lip did not differ significantly between UCLP patients and controls.

Conclusion:

The UCLP patients show a less dominant development of the upper lip and a more voluminous lower lip in comparison to the control group. The UCLP patients showed a distinctly more concave soft-tissue profile.