Three-Dimensional Analysis of the Pharyngeal Airway Volume and Craniofacial Morphology in Patients With Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the correlations between the craniofacial morphology and pharyngeal airway volume in patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP).

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary hospital.

Participants: Twenty-seven patients with complete BCLP and 27 class I control patients, aged 10 to 14 years.

Main Outcome Measure: The pharyngeal airway volume and craniofacial morphology were evaluated using cone-beam computed tomography. Measurements were compared between groups and any correlations were identified.

Results: A significantly smaller total pharyngeal airway volume (TPV), oropharyngeal airway volume, and upper (UOPV) and lower (LOPV) oropharyngeal airway volume were found in patients with BCLP than in class I control patients, with no difference in the nasopharyngeal volume between groups. Furthermore, the craniofacial morphology measurements of N-Me, S-Go, Or-C, Ptm-C, Me-C, Co-Go, Go-Me, Ptm-Or, N-S-Ar, and Ar-Go-Me significantly differed between the BCLP and control groups (all < .05). Multiple regression analysis indicated that Ptm-C and Me-C; Ptm-C, Or-C, and Me-C; and Me-C explained 20.3%, 38.9%, and 17.1% of the variations in TPV ( = .025), UOPV ( = .002), and LOPV ( = .018), respectively.

Conclusions: Total pharyngeal airway volume, TPV, OPV, UOPV, and LOPV were significantly smaller in patients with BCLP than in class I controls. In patients with BCLP, the maxilla showed inhibited sagittal development and a retrograde position; moreover, the pharyngeal airway volume was weakly associated with the position of the maxilla and mandible relative to the coronal plane.