A Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy and Efficiency of Grayson's Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding Technique in Patients with Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate with Those Treated with Figueroa's Modified Technique

BACKGROUND: Presurgical nasoalveolar molding (PNAM) has been used for aligning and not only for approximating the maxillary alveolar segments preoperatively but also for improving the nasal symmetry and therefore facilitates primary surgical repairs in cleft patients. AIM: This study was conducted to compare the efficacy and efficiency of Grayson's technique with Figueroa's modified presurgical nasoalveolar technique in complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two infants aged 10–15 days were randomly divided into two equal groups: Group I treated with Grayson's PNAM technique and Group II with Figueroa's PNAM technique. RESULTS: When we compared nasal asymmetry values preoperatively and postoperatively of Group I and Group II, it was found that the nostril height increased significantly on the cleft side and nostril width decreased significantly postoperatively on the cleft side. When we compared nasal asymmetry values postoperatively of Group I with Group II, all the values were nonsignificant. When we compared the digital maxillary cast analysis outcomes preoperatively and postoperatively in Group I and Group II, it was found that there was a significant reduction in the alveolar gap and there is a significant increase in the arch width. When we compared the efficiency of Group I with Group II, it was found that Group II was more efficient than Group II. CONCLUSION: This study showed a morphological improvement in nasal symmetry and maxillary alveoli of infants with UCLP treated with both Grayson's PNAM technique and Figueroa's PNAM technique with Grayson's PNAM technique being more efficient.