New technique for correction of the microform cleft lip using vertical interdigitation of the orbicularis oris muscle through the intraoral incision

A microform cleft lip has three major components: (1) a minor defect of the upper vermilion border with loss of the mucocutaneous ridge; (2) a narrow ridge of tissue, resembling an exaggerated philtral column extending to the nostril sill; and (3) a deformity of the nostril. To attain the muscle continuity without an external scar on the upper lip, the author introduced a new method for the correction of a microform cleft lip deformity using vertical interdigitation of the orbicularis oris muscle through the intraoral incision to create the philtrum. Through the intraoral incision, a full-thickness incision is made down to the mucosa and the posterior portion of the muscle. Then, the remaining portion of the muscle is dissected. The medial and lateral muscle flaps are also detached from the oral mucosa and completely exposed and split into two leaves. The upper leaf of the lateral muscle flap is sutured to the dermis on the philtral dimple and base of the upper leaf of the medial muscle flap. Two leaves of each muscle flap are sutured together to create a vertical interdigitation to increase the thickness of the philtral column and to provide continuity of the muscle. A total of 12 patients with microform cleft lip were treated between August of 2001 and October of 2002. Seven of the patients were male and five were female, with an age range of 1 to 43 years. The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 15 months, with an average follow-up of 9 months. The results of vertical interdigitation of the muscle were examined. All patients were satisfied with their results. The orbicularis oris muscle provided continuity and preserved good function. In all cases, the operation scar was not visible on the depressed philtral groove on the cleft side. Correction of cleft lip nasal deformity was performed in four patients and alar base advancement was performed in two patients. The advantages of the proposed procedure include the creation of an anatomically natural philtrum without an external visible scar through the intraoral incision, preservation of the continuity and function of the muscle, and sufficient augmentation of the philtral column by the vertical interdigitation of the muscle.     

Binderoid complete cleft lip/palate

A small subset of infants with complete cleft lip/palate look different because they have nasolabiomaxillary hypoplasia and orbital hypotelorism. The authors' purpose was to define the clinical and radiographic features of these patients and to comment on operative management, classification, and terminology. The authors reviewed 695 patients with all forms of incomplete and complete cleft lip/palate and identified 15 patients with nasolabiomaxillary hypoplasia and orbital hypotelorism. All 15 patients had complete labial clefting (5 percent of 320 patients with complete cleft lip/palate), equally divided between bilateral and unilateral forms. The female-to-male ratio was 2:1. Of the seven infants with unilateral complete cleft lip/palate, one had an intact secondary palate and all had a hypoplastic septum, small alar cartilages, narrow basilar columella, underdeveloped contralateral philtral ridge, ill-defined Cupid's bow, thin vermilion-mucosa on both sides of the cleft, and a diminutive premaxilla. Of the eight infants with bilateral complete cleft lip, one had an intact secondary palate. The features were the same as in patients with unilateral cleft, but with a more severely hypoplastic nasal tip, conical columella, tiny prolabium, underdeveloped lateral labial elements, and small/mobile premaxilla. Central midfacial hypoplasia and hypotelorism did not change during childhood and adolescence. Intermedial canthal measurements remained 1.5 SD below normal age-matched controls. Skeletal analysis (mean age, 10 years; range, 4 months to 19 years) documented maxillary retrusion (mean sagittal maxillomandibular discrepancy, 13.7 mm; range, 3 to 17 mm), absent anterior nasal spine, and a class III relationship. The mean sella nasion A point (S-N-A) angle of 74 degrees (range, 65 to 79 degrees) and sella nasion B point (S-N-B) angle of 81 degrees (range, 71 to 90 degrees) were significantly different from age-matched norms ( = 0.0007 and = 0.004, respectively). The ipsilateral central and lateral incisors were absent in all children with unilateral cleft, whereas a single-toothed premaxilla was typically found in the bilateral patients. Several modifications were necessary during primary nasolabial repair because of the diminutive bony and soft-tissue elements. All adolescent patients had Le Fort I maxillary advancement and construction of an adult nasal framework with costochondral or cranial graft. Other often-used procedures were bony augmentation of the anterior maxilla; cartilage grafts to the nasal tip and columella; and dermal grafting to the median tubercle, philtral ridge, and basal columella. Infants with complete unilateral or bilateral cleft lip/palate in association with nasolabiomaxillary hypoplasia and orbital hypotelorism do not belong on the holoprosencephalic spectrum because they have normal head circumference, stature, and intelligence, nor should they be referred to as having Binder anomaly. The authors propose the term cleft lip/palate for these children. Early recognition of this entity is important for counseling parents and because alterations in standard operative methods and orthodontic protocols are necessary.     

Primary correction of the unilateral cleft nasal deformity

An 18-year experience with the management of the unilateral cleft nasal deformity in 1200 patients is presented. A primary cleft nasal correction was performed at the time of lip repair in infancy; a secondary rhinoplasty was done in adolescence after nasal growth was complete. The technical details of the authors' primary cleft nasal correction are described. Exposure was obtained through the incisions of the rotation-advancement design. The cartilaginous framework was widely undermined from the skin envelope. The nasal lining was released from the piriform aperture, and a new maxillary platform was created on the cleft side by rotating a "muscular roll" underneath the cleft nasal ala. The alar web was then managed by using a mattress suture running from the web cartilage to the facial musculature. In 60 percent of cases, these maneuvers were sufficient to produce symmetrical dome projection and nostril symmetry. In the other 40 percent, characterized by more severe hypoplasia of the cleft lower lateral cartilage, an inverted U infracartilaginous incision and an alar dome supporting suture (Tajima) to the contralateral upper cartilage were used. Residual dorsal hooding of the lower lateral cartilage was most effectively managed with this suture. This primary approach to the cleft nasal deformity permits more balanced growth and development of the ala and domal complex. Some of the psychological trauma of the early school years may be avoided. Also, because of the early repositioning of the cleft nasal cartilages, the deformity addressed at the time of the adult rhinoplasty is less severe and more amenable to an optimal final result.     

Resorbable internal splint: an adjunct to primary correction of unilateral cleft lip-nasal deformity

There is usually some relapse in position of the alar cartilage after primary repair of unilateral cleft lip. Therefore, preoperative or postoperative external splinting has been recommended to supplement either closed or open suspension of the alar cartilage. The authors present a method using a resorbable internal nostril splint to shield the positioned alar cartilage from deformational forces caused by scar, and thus avoiding the problems associated with external splinting. An internal nasal splint was placed in 15 infants during repair of unilateral complete cleft lip and nasal deformity. The nasal morphology was compared with that of 15 control patients who had the same nasolabial procedure without internal splinting. Average follow-up time was 20.4 months (range, 4 to 30 months). Photogrammetric analysis showed that asymmetry of the alar contours averaged 8.6 percent in the splinted patients, as compared with 23 percent for controls (p <0.01). Thus, alar asymmetry was decreased two-thirds in the splinted group. An internal resorbable nasal splint is an adjunct to open alar suspension in primary repair of the unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity. An internal nasal splint protects the corrected alar cartilage longer than an external splint and eliminates drawbacks, such as necrosis, cutaneous depression of the nostril sill, and patient noncompliance. This strategy of temporary internal support of healing cartilage has other applications.     

Repair of bilateral complete cleft lip: intraoperative nasolabial anthropometry

Synchronous repair of bilateral complete cleft lip and nasal deformity requires conception of three-dimensional form and fourth-dimensional changes with growth, as distorted by the malformation. The aim is to obviate typical postoperative nasolabial stigmata. The strategy is to construct fast-growing features on a smaller scale and slow-growing features on a normal or slightly larger scale. In this study, intraoperative alterations in nasolabial dimensions were documented by anthropometry in 46 consecutive infants with bilateral complete cleft lip. These values were averaged and compared with measures from normal Caucasian infants at ages 0 to 5 months and 6 to 12 months. Nasal height (n-sn) and nasal width (al-al), both fast-growing features, were set smaller (88 percent and 96 percent, respectively) than those of age-matched normal infants. In contrast, the slow-growing features, nasal protrusion (sn-prn) and columellar length, were constructed longer than normal (130 percent and 167 percent, respectively). Because all labial features grow rapidly, they were made diminutive in this study, with the exception of central vermilion-mucosal height (median tubercle), which was purposively made full. These maneuvers resulted in a normal, average overall upper-lip height (sn-sto). Two technical refinements also are described: (1) construction of deepithelialized bands flanking the philtral flap to improve surface contour; and (2) positioning and fixation of the dislocated alar cartilages, performed entirely through superiomedial nostril rim incisions.     

Asymmetric incision for open rhinoplasty in cleft lip nasal deformity.

One of the problems in the correction of the unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity is the alar web deformity on the mediosuperior side of the nostril. A number of methods for the correction of the alar web deformity have been introduced, but no single procedure has been identified as the standard. In this report, the incision line of the open rhinoplasty was modified and the alar web deformity was corrected by using an incision and closure. Open rhinoplasty with the asymmetric incision was performed on 18 patients with unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity. The incision line used in the normal side was the usual intranasal rim incision line and that used for the columella was the transcolumella incision line. For the cleft side, an intranasal rim incision line was plotted after the rim was lifted upward with forceps to achieve symmetry of the nasal tip. After removal of the forceps, the incision line of the cleft side was displaced outside the nostril. After such an incision, the alar cartilage mobilization and suspension were performed with or without the conchal cartilage graft. All patients used nasal retainers for 6 months after the procedures. So far, satisfactory results have been obtained with the modification of the incision line for open rhinoplasty. This method is unique in designing the incision line, and its procedure is rather simple. The postoperative follow-up period has been 12 to 26 months. A long-term follow-up is still needed, especially in growing children.     

Primary repair of bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. List five principles that guide synchronous repair of bilateral complete cleft lip and nasal deformity. 2. Explain how different growth rates for the principal nasolabial features are applied during primary repair. 3. Describe two approaches for positioning the alar cartilages to form the columella. 4. Discuss the influences on referral patterns for a newborn with bilateral cleft lip. --Traditional repair of bilateral cleft lip focused on labial closure but accentuated the nasal deformities, which were addressed later. By the end of the past century, single-staged labial closure had replaced the old multistaged procedures and the technical emphasis had begun to shift from secondary to primary nasal correction. Now, presurgical maxillary orthopedics sets the bony foundation for synchronous nasolabial repair and for closure of the alveolar clefts. The study of normal nasolabial growth and the typical stigmata of the conventional methods provides the necessary foreknowledge to guide surgical sculpture in three dimensions and to anticipate the fourth dimension. The convergence of several forces are changing referral lines for children born with bilateral cleft lip. These include affirmation of centers of excellence, surgeons' self-regulation, prenatal diagnosis, economics of health-care delivery, and increasing parental sophistication. These pressures are not necessarily in conflict. Care by a subspecialized plastic surgeon and experienced team is in the best interests of the child and the third-party payer.     

Facial artery in the upper lip and nose: anatomy and a clinical application

Twenty-five facial arteries were examined radiographically in 19 fresh cadavers that had been injected systemically with a lead oxide-gelatin mixture. Major branches of the facial artery in the upper lip and nose were investigated, and the anatomical variations were classified into three types on the basis of the anatomy of the lateral nasal artery, which was determined as an artery running toward the alar base. In 22 cases (88 percent), the facial artery bifurcated into the lateral nasal artery and superior labial artery at the angle of the mouth. In two cases (8 percent), the facial artery became an angular artery after branching off into the superior labial artery and the lateral nasal artery sequentially. In one case (4 percent), the facial artery became an angular artery after branching off into the superior labial artery, and the lateral nasal artery then branched off from the superior labial artery. Branches from the lateral nasal and superior labial arteries were observed stereographically. Vascular anastomoses between those branches were created in the upper lip, columella base, and nasal tip, and an intimate vascular network was formed. With a vascular network in the mucosa of the upper lip, a bilobed upper-lip flap was created for a clinical case with a full-thickness defect of the ala.     

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.     

Anatomy of the nasal cartilages of the unilateral complete cleft lip nose

The purpose of this study was to disclose the relationship between the anomaly of the cartilaginous framework and the nasal deformity of cleft lip. The noses of six stillborn infants with unilateral complete cleft lip were carefully dissected. The size and weight of the lower lateral cartilages were measured to determine whether there was a significant difference between the normal and involved sides. The position of the nasal cartilages was observed, and the distance between them was measured to determine whether they were normal. The surgical dissection revealed that the lower lateral cartilages from both sides were asymmetrical in three dimensions, indicating the displacement of the lower lateral cartilage on the involved side. There was displacement of the cartilaginous septum and the upper lateral cartilage. The statistical evaluation did not demonstrate a significant difference between weight and size of the two sides. One of the major causative factors of nasal deformity is displacement of the nasal cartilages. There is no hypoplasia of nasal cartilage in newborn infants with cleft lip.     

A rotational method of bilateral cleft lip nose repair

Repairs of the bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity have focused on lengthening the lower columella by adding lip, nasal structure, or a piece of ear. In these methods, the raised true columella worsens the dorsal dislocation of the lateral crura of the alar cartilages and the lateral and dorsal displacement of the alar domes. We believe that lengthening the upper columella from above is more anatomic and reasonable than lengthening the lower columella. A method for reconstructing the upper columella by medial and ventral rotation of the dislocated alar domes is described. Figi's "flying bird" incision was extended to the columellar base along the nostril margin. Through this incision, the lower one-third of the nose, including the alae and nostril floors, was undermined widely. The inner layers, the nostrils, were freed from the surrounding tissues, except in the region of the columella and the septum, and rotated medially in the opposite direction of Cronin's technique. The resulting nasal shape, involving the columellar length and the concavity between the nasal tip and lateral ala, improved in 11 patients.     

Secondary correction of the unilateral cleft lip nose using a conchal composite graft

The secondary deformity of the unilateral cleft lip nose has many components. One is the dorsal dislocation of the lateral crus of the alar cartilage. We used a conchal composite graft positioned between the piriform aperture and the lateral crus and the upper lateral cartilage to correct this dislocation in nine patients. We believe that this graft is effective because it elevates the lateral crus of the alar cartilage off the depressed piriform aperture. This technique is very simple to perform, and it is easy to achieve nasal symmetry. Our results have been quite satisfactory, with no recurrence of dorsal dislocation. The donor site was covered by a subcutaneous pedicled flap from the cephaloauricular sulcus, leaving an inconspicuous deformity.     

Primary correction of the unilateral cleft lip nose: a 15-year experience

This paper reviews a 15-year personal experience based on 400 unilateral cleft nasal deformities that were reconstructed using a method that repositions the alar cartilage by freeing it from the skin and lining and shifts it to a new position. The rotation-advancement lip procedure facilitates the exposure and approach to the nasal reconstruction. The nasal soft tissues are transected from the skeletal base, reshaped, repositioned, and secured by using temporary stent sutures that readapt the alar cartilage, skin, and lining. The nasal floor is closed and the ala base is positioned to match the normal side. Good subsequent growth with maintenance of the reconstruction has been noted in this series. The repair does not directly expose or suture the alar cartilage. Improvement in the cleft nasal deformity is noted in 80 percent of the cases. Twenty percent require additional techniques to achieve the desired symmetry. This method has been used by the author as his primary unilateral cleft nasal repair and has been taught to residents and fellows under his direction with good results. This technique eliminates the severe cleft nasal deformity seen in many secondary cases.     

Radical correction of secondary nasal deformity in unilateral cleft lip patients presenting late

It is universally acknowledged that correction of a cleft lip nasal deformity continues to be a difficult problem. In developing countries, it is common for patients with cleft lip deformities to present in their early or late teens for correction of severe secondary lip and nasal deformities retained after the initial repairs were carried out in infancy or early childhood. Such patients have never had the benefit of primary nasal correction, orthodontic management, or alveolar bone grafting at an appropriate age. Along with a severe nasal deformity, they present with alveolar arch malalignments and anterior fistulae. In the study presented here, a strategy involving a complete single-stage correction of the nasal and secondary lip deformity was used.In this study, 26 patients (nine male and 17 female) ranging in age from 13 to 24 years presented for the first time between June of 1996 and December of 1999 with unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity. Eight patients had an anterior fistula (diameter, 2 to 4 mm) and 12 patients had a secondary lip deformity. An external rhinoplasty approach was used for all patients. The corrective procedures carried out in a single stage in these patients included lip revision; columellar lengthening; repair of anterior fistula; augmentation along the pyriform margin, nasal floor, and alveolus by bone grafts; submucous resection of the nasal septum; repositioning of lower lateral cartilages; fixation of the alar cartilage complex to the septum and the upper lateral cartilages; augmentation of nasal dorsum by bone graft; and alar base wedge resections. Medial and lateral nasal osteotomies were performed only if absolutely indicated. The median follow-up period was 11 months, although it ranged from 5 to 25 months. Overall results have been extremely pleasing, satisfactory, and stable.In this age group (13 years of age or older), it is not fruitful to use a technique for nasal correction that corrects only one facet of the deformity, because no result of nasal correction can be satisfactory until septal deviations and maxillary deficiencies are addressed along with any alar repositioning. The results of complete remodeling of the nasal pyramid are also stable in these patients because the patients' growth was nearly complete, and all the deformities could be corrected at the same time, leaving no active deforming vector. These results would indicate that aesthetically good results are achievable even if no primary nasal correction or orthodontic management had been previously attempted.     

Primary repair of the unilateral cleft lip nose in the Oriental: a 20-year follow-up

The unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity is corrected as a primary procedure with the lip repair. The abnormal attachment of the alar base is first released by an incision along the superior buccal sulcus and piriform margin. There is no intercartilaginous incision. Basically, we use the Brown-McDowell technique with the addition of an alar rim incision. Undermining of the ala between the two incisions is carefully and adequately done, splitting it into two layers. The first is a skin and the second, a chondrocutaneous (vestibular skin) layer, which is handled as a single unit, thus enhancing its vascularity. This second layer is a bipedicle flap with a broad medial pedicle and a narrow lateral pedicle at the alar base. When the alar base is rolled into its normal position, the chondrocutaneous unit hinging on its two pedicles counterrotates, correcting the subluxation of the ala, a major component of the cleft lip nasal deformity. We depend on the normal position of the alar base, the postoperative scar tissue, and the inherently thick nostril wall in the Oriental to keep the alar dome up. No transfixion sutures are used. Ten consecutive patients are shown 20 years after surgery. All had one operation only. None showed any disturbance of nasal growth.     

Primary correction of unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity: a 10-year review

A 10-year follow-up of patients who underwent primary correction of their cleft lip nasal deformity is presented. These are the first 10 consecutive patients who were treated following a change in treatment plan in 1973. Primary correction of the cleft lip nasal deformity essentially consists in elevating the displaced alar cartilage at the time of lip repair. There has been no interference with nasal growth, and the position of the alar cartilages and nasal tip has been maintained.     

Simultaneous reconstruction of the secondary bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity: Abbé flap revisited

The purpose of this retrospective study was to review the method of using the Abbé flap for correction of secondary bilateral cleft lip deformity in selected patients with tight upper lip, short prolabium, lack of acceptable philtral column and Cupid's bow definition, central vermilion deficiency, irregular lip scars, and associated nasal deformity. A total of 39 patients with the bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity received Abbé flap and simultaneous nasal reconstruction during a period of 6 years. Mean patient age at the time of the operation was 19.1 years, and ranged from 6.6 to 38.5 years. The average follow-up period was 1.8 years. Fourteen patients had prior orthognathic operations. The Abbé flap was designed 13 to 14 mm in length and 8 to 9 mm in width and contained full-thickness tissue from the central lower lip, with a slightly narrow reverse-V caudal end. The prolabium, including the scars and central vermilion, was excised. Lengthening procedures of the upper lip segments were performed if vertical deficiency existed. Part of the prolabial skin was preserved and mobilized for columellar elongation, if indicated. Open rhinoplasty was carried out with or without cartilage graft for columella and nasal tip reconstruction. Reduction of the alar width and nostrils was achieved by a Z-plasty or excision of scar tissue at the nostril floor. The Abbé flap was then transposed cephalad, insetting into the median defect and sutured in layers. The results demonstrated no flap problems or perioperative complications. Seven patients needed further minor revisions on the nose and/or lip. Laser treatment was used to improve the lip scars in three patients. The patients were satisfied with the final outcome and found the lower lip scars acceptable. In conclusion, the described technique of Abbé flap and simultaneous rhinoplasty is an effective reconstructive method for select patients with bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity.     

A comparative study of the skin envelope of the unilateral cleft lip nose subsequent to rotation-advancement and triangular flap lip repairs

The secondary nasal skin envelope asymmetries were studied after unilateral cleft lip repair using the original (obsolete) rotation-advancement (Millard I) and the triangular flap techniques (Bardach's modification). Secondary correction of the nasal deformity was not performed in either group. Our findings indicated that in both groups, vertical asymmetries of the nasal skin envelope were similar. The alar dome on the cleft side was depressed, the columella was shorter on the cleft side, and there was hooding at the nostril apex. The principal difference between the two lip repairs was observed in the horizontal dimension of the nasal skin envelope. The position of the alar base was more normal following the Millard I repair, while the triangular flap repair left the alar base laterally displaced. When considered together with flattening of the cleft alar dome, a horizontal skin-envelope deficiency from middome to lateral alar crease was produced in the Millard I group. More lateral positioning of the alar base after the triangular flap technique minimized this horizontal skin deficiency. The triangular flap technique produced a secondary nasal deformity that looked worse but was easier to correct. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.     

Principles and techniques of bilateral complete cleft lip repair

Important principles for repair of bilateral complete cleft lip are symmetry, primary orbicularis continuity, proper prolabial size and shape, median tubercle and mucocutaneous ridge formation from lateral lip tissue, and early construction of nasal tip and columella with anatomic placement of the alar cartilages. A two-stage repair employing techniques based on these concepts is described. At the initial procedure, the lateral crura are positioned and a tiny biconcave prolabium is shaped in anticipation of the changes with growth. The second stage (nasal correction) includes apposition of the alar genua, medial crural relocation, and intranasal transposition of banked forked flaps without disjunction of the columella-labial angle. The complete bilateral cleft lip is a four-dimensional problem.     

Secondary rhinoplasty using flying-bird and vestibular tornado incisions for unilateral cleft lip patients

To correct the nasal deformity in cleft lip patients, a new procedure of open rhinoplasty using a "flying-bird" incision in the nostril tip with a vestibule "tornado"-shaped incision in the cleft side is presented. The newly designed vestibular incision produces effective vestibular advancement with the freed lower lateral cartilage. The flying-bird incision makes it possible to produce a suitable nostril tip appearance with symmetrical external nostril vestibules. If the vestibular defect after flap advancement is wide, a full-thickness skin graft is used to give priority for making a good external nostril shape. This procedure is useful for most cleft lip noses, particularly in cases of moderate to severe deformity.