Radiographic Study of the Nasal Valve in Different CT Evaluation Method in Asian Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip Nose

Objective(s) It was the first study to apply and compare two CT methods to assess the validity and clinical significance of structural alterations of the nasal valve in patients with cleft lip nose for assessing nasal ventilation disturbance. Methods The study collected data from the NOSE score, as well as internal nasal valve area, internal nasal valve angle, external nasal valve area, and septal deviation angle, to evaluate the differences and correlations between those factors in patients with cleft lip and nose. Results There were significant differences among INV transverse and coronal area and INV angle on different axial standardized planes between clefted side and non-clefted side. There were statistically significant negative correlations between NOSE scores and those indicators of standard plane and acoustic-axis standardized coronal plane. NOSE score and NSD angle were the indicators of significant differences in the measured data of different complications groups ( p = 0.002, p = 0.017). The correlation comparison showed that two standardized CT imaging transverse planes have similar correlations in NOSE score, NSD angle, and complications. Conclusion The results of the two CT evaluation methods showed that there was a significant difference in nasal valve area on the cleft and non-cleft sides, which was significantly associated with nasal ventilation disturbance. The CT evaluation method based on standard axial 3D reconstruction is more convenient to use in the clinic, can be used for pre-surgical evaluation of nasal repair in patients with secondary nasal deformities of unilateral cleft lip, and is valuable for treatment. Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .