Pathophysiology of cleft lip muscles following the initial surgical repair.

Muscle biopsy specimens taken from the upper lip and perialar area during the time of secondary lip revision and studied by histochemical techniques demonstrate persistent connective-tissue and muscle abnormalities even at a distance from the cleft margins. Some of these changes are consistent with surgically induced denervation-reinnervation of muscle groups in the surgical field. Increased amounts of connective tissue also were found, most likely secondary to the original deformity and the subsequent surgical procedures. Both these changes may be important factors in subsequent abnormal growth and development of the underlying midfacial structures. This study also demonstrated the resolution of previously noted mitochondrial abnormalities found in the primary cleft lip patient.     

Unilateral cleft lip repair

The marking of the medial lip segment of the Millard rotation advancement procedure for repair of the unilateral cleft lip has been altered in the uppermost portion by utilizing tissue from the columellar base. Once adequate length has been obtained, cutback is utilized at approximately 90 degrees. With adequate full-thickness release of this medial lip segment and subsequent rotation into the proper position, the C flap is advanced into the donor defect of the columellar base and is also used to lengthen the shortened columella on the cleft side. This results in placement of a scar that will closely simulate the "mirror image" of the noninvolved philtral column. Fifty-seven patients with unilateral cleft lip have been repaired utilizing this technique during the past 14 years. Several of these children have required secondary surgeries because of mucosal irregularities or residual nasal deformities, but none has required additional surgery because of inadequate rotation of the medial lip segment or for correction of any donor-site defect at the base of the columella.     

Outpatient cleft lip repair

The emphasis on cost reduction and increased efficiency in health care delivery has prompted an increase in outpatient (ambulatory) surgical procedures. A retrospective review of the perioperative management of patients undergoing cleft lip repair at two urban tertiary pediatric hospitals was performed to assess the safety of outpatient cleft lip repair. The hospital database at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles was searched to find all patients who had been operated on for cleft lip repair during calendar years 1999 and 2000. Two groups were identified from Childrens Hospital Los Angeles: the outpatient cleft lip repair group (patients discharged the same day as the operation; n = 91) and the inpatient cleft lip repair group (n = 14). A data set was acquired from the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, using the same criteria, for fiscal years 1998 to 2000 (n = 50). All patients from Royal Children's Hospital had operations as inpatients. Parameters considered for each group were age, sex, race, ethnicity, length of hospital stay, preexisting medical conditions or diagnoses, complications, and readmissions or presentation to the emergency department within 4 weeks of operation. The Childrens Hospital Los Angeles outpatient group had three readmissions that were considered to be complications of the operation. The Childrens Hospital Los Angeles inpatient group had one readmission attributable to a complication. The Royal Children's Hospital group also had one readmission for a complication. There was no significant difference in the complication rate of the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles outpatient group and the Royal Children's Hospital group (p > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in the complication rate of both of the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles groups compared with the Royal Children's Hospital group (p > 0.05). This study indicates that cleft lip repair performed in an outpatient setting may be a safe alternative to the inpatient operation. Certain preexisting medical conditions, however, may dictate the need for inpatient hospitalization after repair.     

Bilateral cleft lip reconstruction

Over a period of 8 years 140 bilateral cleft lips were operated using a muscle-repositioning banked fork-flap cheiloplasty. The use of buccal mucosal flaps in the intercartilaginous incision is helpful to decrease scarring and contracture by facilitating alar cartilage repositioning and wound closure without tension. Adding mucosa from the inferior turbinate makes complete wound closure relatively easy without tension. A lateral lip orbicularis muscle flap with white skin roll and vermilion is recommended for reconstruction of the Cupid's bow. Muscle continuity by freeing the muscle in one sheet and repositioning in front of the premaxilla with creation of a buccal alveolar sulcus is stressed to prevent the necessity of reentering the lip in a second procedure. The elongation of the columella is done at 1 to 6 years of age by advancing nasal floor tissue onto the columella and repositioning the alar cartilages superiorly and medially. When nasal floor tissue is inadequate, columellar lengthening is done by the use of a composite free ear graft.     

The cleft lip lower-lip deformity

A patient with a repaired upper lip cleft may acquire a deformity in the lower lip. Records of 63 cleft lip patients who exhibited lower-lip abnormalities were analyzed in order to characterize the soft-tissue and skeletal configuration. The typical deformity was a hypertrophied, superiorly displaced, and anteriorly rotated lower lip. Skeletal analysis of the mandible revealed a variable and inconsistent degree of vertical elongation with posterior displacement of the chin. Operative correction of the cleft lip lower-lip deformity required evaluation of both the soft-tissue and skeletal abnormalities. Soft-tissue procedures gave permanent correction, provided there was a normal maxillary-mandibular relationship. Skeletal correction alone did not completely rectify the abnormal lower-lip posture.     

Analysis of the lengthening effect of the muscle repair in functional cleft lip repair

In 14 patients undergoing functional cleft lip repair, changes in the lengths of the key lip segments were measured preoperatively, after the muscle layer was repaired, and after the skin was repaired using pieces of wire bent to follow the curves of the lip in three dimensions. The cleft side of the lip was shorter than the normal side in the vertical and horizontal dimensions. Freeing the muscle from its dermal insertions, splitting it, and advancing it into the medial side of the cleft lengthened the cleft side of the lip vertically and horizontally. The Z-plasty skin repair further lengthened the cleft side of the lip in the vertical dimension. The lengthening effect of the muscle repair appears to be the result of the loose skin redraping over the dissected muscle and further explains elimination of the orbicularis bulge and superior scar formation in the functional cleft lip repair.     

Correction of secondary cleft lip deformities

Learning Objectives: After studying this article, the practitioner should be able to (1) describe the common secondary deformities of the cleft lip, (2) determine the appropriate timing for surgical intervention to correct the deformities, and (3) determine the best method of addressing each of the individual secondary deformities of the cleft lip. Secondary deformities are common in children born with a cleft lip and palate. Patients with cleft lip deformity will undergo multiple surgical procedures early in life, so it is imperative to prioritize treatment of their secondary deformities and minimize the number of interventions needed. Of the many approaches used to correct these problems, surprisingly few work well consistently. As with all plastic surgery, the timing and procedure should be predicated on the severity of the deformity.