A comparison of results using nasoalveolar moulding in cleft infants treated within 1 month of life versus those treated after this period: development of a new protocol

The objectives of this study were to: evaluate the effects of nasoalveolar moulding (NAM) in complete unilateral cleft lip and palate infants presenting for treatment at different ages; propose a new NAM protocol in these patients; improve the predictability of NAM. Study groups comprised: group I (n = 15) treated with NAM within 1 month of age; group II (n = 15) treated with NAM between 1 and 5 months of age. Control: group III (n = 15) comprised of non-cleft 18-month old children. A standard protocol was followed. Patients were evaluated before initiation of NAM, before cheiloplasty and at 18 months. 7 linear anthropometric measurements were compared using dento-facial models. Statistical analysis before and after NAM revealed that group I patients demonstrated 81%, 198%, 69% and 145% improvement in intersegment distance, nasal height, nasal dome height and columella height respectively; whilst group II patients demonstrated 51%, 33%, 21% and 38% improvement for the same. At 18 months, group I patients closely resembled group III patients. This study concluded that the effects of NAM were most significant in group I. Group II patients also benefited from NAM, although to a lesser extent. This study validates the use of NAM in infants presenting late for treatment.