Abstract
Objectives
This trial was designed to test the efficacy of 2 lip taping methods in modifying the maxillary arch dimensions (MADs) of infants with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) before lip repair surgery.
Design
Parallel-group randomized clinical trial.
Setting
The trial was conducted at 3 centers in Baghdad city.
Participants
Thirty-six nonsyndromic infants with BCLP.
Intervention
The eligible infants were randomly assigned to either the first experimental group that received a conventional horizontal tape (3 M Steri strip-1/4 inch) or the second experimental group that received a custom-made tape made of Steri strips and orthodontic extra oral elastics. All of the included infants in both groups had rubber base impressions taken for them at the start of treatment (T1) and right before surgical lip repair (T2). A desktop scanner was used to scan each of the generated models, creating digital models that could be used for outcome evaluation.
Main Outcomes Measures
Virtual MAD measurements were performed by a blinded assessor on the generated digital models both before (T1) and after (T2) treatment.
Results
At T2, both groups showed statistically significant changes in all measured MADs, with a mean difference ranging from 1.36 to 2.95 mm for the conventional taping group and from 1.46 to 7.96 mm for the custom-made one. The comparison of the 2 groups revealed both statistically and clinically significant differences with a P value <.05. The custom-made taping demonstrated more constriction in maxillary arch in terms of changes, which could provide easier surgical manipulation for the cleft parts.
Conclusion
Lip taping appears to be an efficient technique for modifying the MADs in infants with BCLP.
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References
Supplementary Material
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