Nasal Symmetry Outcomes After Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM) Plus Cheiloplasty Treatment in Babies With Cleft Lip/Palate: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online June, 2026
Nasal Symmetry Outcomes After Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM) Plus Cheiloplasty Treatment in Babies With Cleft Lip/Palate: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
To investigate the impact of nasoalveolar molding (NAM) treatment after cheiloplasty surgery on the results of nasal symmetry in individuals with cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P).
Design
Systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
Setting
Electronic searches were performed in 6 databases in October 2023. Studies comparing individuals with CL/P undergoing treatment with NAM + cheiloplasty and individuals undergoing cheiloplasty alone were considered. Each selected study was allocated in a table and data were extracted by 2 authors. The risk of bias and meta-analyze were conducted. In total, 416 articles were retrieved and 9 studies were included.
Patients, Participants
Individuals with CL/P who underwent cheiloplasty.
Interventions
NAM treatment.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
Nasal symmetry, clef width, or any.
Results
In the group NAM+ cheiloplasty, there was an increase in nostril height (NH), columellar width, and length (CL) in the short and long term (P < .05). Nostril width (NW) and bialar width (BW) decreased in the short term and increased in the long term in individuals undergoing NAM+ cheiloplasty (P < .05). Six studies exhibited a moderate risk of bias; 3 exhibited a serious risk of bias. The strength of the evidence was very low.
Conclusions
Treatment with NAM+ cheiloplasty positively impacted nasal symmetry with increased NH, NW, and CL in the short and long term. NAM treatment improved NW and BW only in the short term.
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