P-A cephalometric analysis of nonoperated adult cleft lip and palate.

P-A cephalometric analysis was performed on the craniofacial morphology in 88 Brazilian men with nonoperated and operated cleft lip and palate. For the comparative study, these subjects were divided into the following four groups: (1) 31 nonoperated unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), (2) 24 nonoperated bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP), (3) 16 operated UCLP, (4) 17 operated BCLP. Thirty Brazilian men without cleft lip and palate were used as control subjects. In comparison with the control subjects, nonoperated BCLP and UCLP showed remarkable facial deformity characterized by increased width of various facial parts. Facial morphology of surgically treated BCLP and UCLP, however, was very similar to that of noncleft subjects, apart from the immediate cleft region. There was no remarkable difference in the facial morphology between nonoperated BCLP and UCLP, except for the cleft width and the deviation of nasal septum base, while the only significant difference between operated BCLP and UCLP was in the cleft width.