Effect of maxillary alveolar reconstruction on nasal symmetry of cleft lip and palate patients: a study comparing iliac crest bone graft and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP)-2 has been used in some craniofacial centers worldwide. However, its influence on nasal morphology is unknown. Thus, the objective of this investigation was to assess the effect of maxillary alveolar reconstruction on nasal position and symmetry in unilateral complete cleft lip patients who underwent traditional iliac crest bone grafting transferring versus reconstruction using rhBMP-2.

METHODS: Nineteen unilateral complete cleft lip patients were randomly divided into two groups. In group 1, patients underwent traditional iliac crest bone grafting transferring (n = 11) and in group 2, patients underwent alveolar reconstruction using collagen matrix with lyophilized rhBMP-2 (n = 8). Computerized tomography (CT) imaging was performed preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively using a previously standardized protocol. Linear distances using anatomic landmarks were performed using tridimensional CT data reformatted by the OsiriX(®) software. Quantitative and qualitative measurements to assess intra- and inter-group nasal position modifications were performed.

RESULTS: Intra-group pre- and postoperative comparisons showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in two linear measurements of group 1, while group 2 did not present a difference (p > 0.05). Group 2 presented significant postoperative enhancement (p < 0.05) in the quantitative nasal symmetry in one measurement. Qualitative analysis showed postoperative nasal symmetry enhancement in 75% of the measurements of group 2 and 36% of group 1. There was no statistically significant difference in the inter-group comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that both groups showed similar effect on nasal symmetry.