Upper-airway's Morphologic Characteristics Analysis Of Patients With Unilateral Cleft Lip And Palate Using CBCT

Objective:Upper-airway's morphologic characteristics of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate(UCLP) were analysed by CBCT, comparing with patients with skeletal III malocclusion and skeletalâ… malocclusion.Methods:Choose 41 patients with UCLP as the experimental group,according to the criteria,while 10 patients with skeletalâ…¢malocclusion and 11 patients with skeletal I malocclusion as the control groups.In order to observe the three-dimensions structure of the upper-airway,we divided it into four parts,measuring three indexes central sagittal diameter,maximum coronal diameter and cross section area.The mean,maximun and minimum values of every part had been compared.Each data had been measured three times,we choosed the mean value. Statistical analysis used the independent sample t test.Results:1.The values of the cross section area and central sagittal diameter in CLP-1 were smaller than the CLP-2,and having statistical differences;the coronal diameters in each part of the upper-airway in the CLP-1 group were smaller than the CLP-2 except Tlmin and T2min,having statistical differences.2.Compared the UCLP patients with the patients having skeletalâ… malocclusion, the morphologic characteristics of the nasopharynx and palatopharynx parts were much narrower,but the part of the glossopharyngeum and laryngopharynx didn't have much differences.3.Comparing with the skeletalâ…¢malocclusion group, the nasopharynx and palatopharynx parts of CLP-2 were narrow,but they didn't have statistical differences,while the glossopharyngeum and laryngopharynx parts were significant narrow accompaning with statistical differences. Conclusion:1.In the sample of UCLP patients, the values of the central sagittal diameter,the maximum coronal diameter and the cross section area in each part of the upper-airway didn't have sex differences. Each part of the upper-airway's values about the central sagittal diameter,the maximum coronal diameter and the cross section area were growing larger with the age,having statistical differences.But the narrowest part of the coronal diameter in the nasopharynx and palatopharynx didn't have any change statistically.It indicated that the development of the upper-airway's width was restricted on the palatal plane level in UCLP patients,but still needs advance researches.2.Compared with the skeletalâ… malocclusion(CL-1),the CLP-2 group had narrower across section area and central sagittal diameter in the part of nasopharynx, but no significant differences between the maximum coronal diameters.It indicated that the development of the nasopharynx part's coronal diameter became normal. CLP-2 had significant narrower central sagittal diameter and maximum coronal diameter, leading to narrow airway space,also resulting in malocclusion accompanied with CLP.In the part of the glossopharyngeum and laryngopharynx,there was no statistical differences,still needs advance researches.3.Compared with the skeletalâ…¢malocclusion group, the nasopharynx and palatopharynx parts of the airway in CLP-2 were both narrow,but no statistical differences.Maybe the sample of the CL-3 group just including the patients with maxillary retrusion was the reason.The glossopharyngeum and laryngopharynx part had significant differences in CLP-2,the reason maybe was that the sample of the CL-3 all had skeletal mandibular protrusion,accompanying with the expansion of the airway's cross section area,central sagittal diameter and maximum coronal diameter,then the narrow airway space in the CLP-2 happened.