| Abstract [eng] |
The relevance of the problem and the aim of the study. Facial aesthetics is one of the factors determining an individual’s quality of life, psycho-emotional state, and social integration. This is particularly important for patients born with cleft lip and/or palate. Despite multidisciplinary treatment involving modern reconstruction methods, objective clinical parameters do not always coincide with the patients’ own subjective satisfaction with their appearance. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between objective nasolabial anthropometric measurements and the subjective evaluation of facial aesthetics among 13-15 year-old patients, born with cleft lip, palate and/or alveolar ridge, and to evaluate the influence of gender and cleft type on these indicators. Materials and Methods. Lithuanian Bioethics committee approval was obtained for the study. The sample consisted of 21 patients (12 males and 9 females) aged 13-15 years, operated at the Zalgiris Clinic (VUHSC branch). Participants were photographed using the „VECTRA XT“ 3D photogrammetry system, and anthropometric measurements were performed using “VECTRA Analysis” software. Patients completed the “CLEFT-Q” questionnaire, specifically the “Appearance of Lip”, “Appearance of Nose”, “Appearance of Nostrils” and “Appearance of Lip Scar” scales were analysed. Statistical analysis was performed using MS Excel 2023 and IBM SPSS Statistics 31.0.2.0. Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis H tests, and simple linear regression (p<0.05) were applied. Results. Nose deviation was identified as one of the most significant factors negatively associated with subjective self-assessment: moderate negative correlations were found with overall satisfaction with the nose (ρ=-0.47; p<0.05) and the appearance of the nostrils (ρ=-0.56; p<0.01), as well as with the appearance of the nose while smiling and symmetry. Nostril width asymmetry correlated negatively with satisfaction regarding their size and shape. Meanwhile, the nasolabial angle correlated positively with better assessments of nasal symmetry, nostril shape, and size (ρ≈0.45-0.59; p<0.05). Regression analysis showed that nasal deviation is the best predictor of nostril appearance while smiling (R²=0.548; p=0.01), while the nasolabial angle predicts nostril shape and size assessment. (R²≈0.33–0.36). Males rated their nasal and nostril aesthetics significantly more favorably than females (p<0.001). Conclusions.. Nasolabial assimetry was detected for patients born with cleft lip, palate or alveolar ridge.The greatest dissatisfaction with facial aesthetics stems from nasal axis deviation and nostril asymmetry, while the lip area is rated most favorably. Increasing nasal axis deviation significantly reduces satisfaction with the appearance of the nostrils during smiling. Women tend to evaluate their facial aesthetics more critically, particularly in the nasal region. |
