Craniofacial morphology and pharyngeal airway space in children with UCLP and habitual snoring

The aim of this study was to evaluate the craniofacial morphology and pharyngeal airway space in children with both unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and habitual snoring. Eighteen patients with UCLP visited the Orthodontic Clinic, Meikai University hospital between April 2002 and January 2005. The patients with UCLP were divided into two groups. One group included eight children who were associated with both UCLP and habitual snoring and the other group included 10 children who were associated with both UCLP and non-snoring. In addition, another two groups were obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and control groups. In the findings, SNA, SNB, ANB, CONVEXITY, A-B PLANE, MANDIBULAR PLANE, ANS-ME, Y-AXIS, D-AD1, D-AD2, D-PTV, and UPPER PHARYNX were selected for comparison with the Mann–Whitney U-test between the two UCLP groups, as a result of the Kruskal–Wallis test. Children with both UCLP and snoring compared to children with UCLP and non-snoring had a large lower anterior facial height and a narrowed pharyngeal airway space. However, children both with UCLP and snoring did not have a skeletal class III with undergrowth in the maxilla. In conclusion, these findings suggested that children with both UCLP and snoring had an OSA risk factor.