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CC BY 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2025; 52(04): 225-233
DOI: 10.1055/a-2572-6342
Pediatric/Craniomaxillofacial/Head and Neck
Original Article

The Effectiveness of Nasal Conformers in Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Following Primary Cheiloplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Jutharat Chimruang 
1   Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
2   Naresuan University Cleft and Craniofacial Center, Phitsanulok, Thailand
,
Saran Worasakwutiphong 
2   Naresuan University Cleft and Craniofacial Center, Phitsanulok, Thailand
3   Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
,
Ratchawan Tansalarak 
1   Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
2   Naresuan University Cleft and Craniofacial Center, Phitsanulok, Thailand
› Institutsangaben
Funding Open access funding was provided by the Library of Naresuan University.
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Abstract

Background

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of nasal conformers in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) following primary cheiloplasty.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials (CENTRAL), and EBSCO Open Dissertation from inception to November 2023. We included three retrospective and one prospective cohort studies evaluating the effect of postoperative nasal conformers after primary cheiloplasty. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were performed using the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Intervention (ROBINS-I) tool. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model to pool data and determine overall effect sizes with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The mean difference (MD) was calculated for nostril height and nostril width outcomes. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024511395).

Results

The four included studies represented 83 treated patients and 84 controls. The overall quality of studies was moderate, as assessed by the ROBINS-I tool. Meta-analysis results showed that nostril width was wider on the cleft side compared with controls (MD = 1.10; 95% CI: 0.64, 1.56), while nostril height was lower on the cleft side (MD = −0.73; 95% CI: −1.20, −0.26). Ratios for nostril width and nostril height were generally closer to symmetry.

Conclusion

This study suggests that nasal conformers may improve nasal symmetry in patients with UCLP following primary cheiloplasty. Further research, including randomized controlled trials and long-term follow-up studies, is needed to confirm these findings and refine the use of nasal conformers in clinical practice.

Keywords

Cleft Lip - nasal stents - systematic review - meta-analysis

Authors' Contributions

Conceptualization: all authors. Data curation: all authors. Formal analysis: all authors. Methodology: all authors. Writing – original draft: J.C. and R.T. Writing – review & editing: all authors. Approval of final manuscript: all authors.


Ethical Approval

This is a systematic review and a meta-analysis study where ethical approval was not applicable.


Patient Consent

The patients provided written informed consent for the publication and the use of their images.


Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.


Supplementary Material



Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 19. Juli 2024

Angenommen: 31. März 2025

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
23. Juli 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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