A typical clett deformity ot the central facial area is very trequently associated with impaired patency ot the nose. Rhinomanometry makes it possible to assess objectively and quantitatively the patency ot these airways. For objective assessment ot the disorder this examination was made closely before secondary rhinoplasty in 36 patients with complete unilateral (81 %) or bilateral clett (19 %). Using the method ot active anterior rhinomanometry, values ot nasal tlow and nasal resistance were assessed. Subsequently the degree ot obstruction ot the nasal airway~s and the lateral ratio ot the nasal tlow were evaluated. The mean value ot the total nasal tlow was 239.9 cm /s, and the mean value ot nasal resistance for individua) nasal vents was 3.55. The results were compared with norma) values according to Bachmann. It was revealed that patients with clefts sutter in 88 % ot cases from signiticant obstruction ot the nasal airways and in the remaining 12 % ot cases from mild obstruction. The lateral ratio can be evaluated as norma) only in 19 % and 14 % ot patients with unilateral and bilateral clefts respectively. Although the great majority ot patients ask for secondary correction because they want to improve their appearance, it is an advantage to express objectively the tunctional disorder ot nasal patency before surgery - thus detining the indication more accurately - and to explain to the patient the possible benetit ot the operation.

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