Three-dimensional evaluation of pharyngeal airway in complete unilateral cleft individuals and normally growing individuals using cone beam computed tomography.

AIMS: The aim of the present study was to evaluate pharyngeal airway in cleft individuals and normally growing individuals using cone beam computed tomography.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cone beam computed tomography scans of 22 individuals were obtained from the Department of Orthodontics and divided in two groups. Group 1 includes 11 cases with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (mean age, 12 years) and group 2 includes 11 noncleft cases (mean age, 14 years). The oropharyngeal, nasopharyngeal, and oronasal pharyngeal airway was evaluated between the two groups.
RESULTS: In the cleft group, the volume of the nasopharyngeal airway was found to be 3.66 cm(3); of the oropharyngeal airway, 9.28 cm(3); and of the oronasal pharyngeal airway, 12.67 cm(3). The volume of the nasopharyngeal airway was found to be significantly reduced in the cleft palate group when compared with the noncleft group.
CONCLUSION: The nasopharyngeal airway was found to be significantly smaller among the children with cleft palate than among those in the control group.