Nasal morphology and shape parameters as predictors of nasal esthetics in individuals with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of shape parameters of nasal morphology to predict esthetics in individuals with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (CUCLP). Methods: This retrospective study involved 28 patients with repaired CUCLP. Nostril morphology was analyzed using nose casts and a video-imaging technique. Calculated shape parameters included area, perimeter, centroid, angle of the principal axis, major and minor moments of area, anisometry, bulkiness, lateral offset, and three-dimensional internostril angles. Esthetics was assessed using a panel of six orthodontists who rated nasal esthetics from frontal, lateral, basal, and three-quarters view slides and from nose casts. Correlations between esthetics and the shape parameters were completed using the entire group as well as using two statistically determined subsets: those with the best and those with the worst esthetics. Results: Nasal esthetics was related to only the perimeter and bulkiness parameter ratios. Symmetry of the perimeters between the right and left nostrils positively correlated with better esthetics using the entire sample group while symmetry of bulkiness between the right and left nostrils positively correlated with better esthetics using both the entire sample group and the best and worst subsets. Conclusions: Only perimeter and bulkiness showed positive correlations with nasal esthetics. The group of parameters used to assess nostril morphology had neither significant correlation with - nor predictive power for - esthetics. Thus, an assessment of the entire nasal surface topography in three dimensions needs to be completed and assessed with respect to predictability of nasal esthetics.