Secondary correction of nasal abnormalities associated with cleft lip

Approximately 30% of patients will require a second operation for correction of nasal abnormalities associated with unilateral cleft lip. In a single second operation, the following steps seem to give the most satisfactory correction: repositioning the nasal septum in the midline; altering the contour of the alar cartilage on the cleft side; and rotation of the axis of the external naris on the cleft side. The usual result following this combination of procedures is moderate but not complete correction of the abnormality. About 50% of the patients will need a second operation for correction of nasal abnormalities associated with bilateral cleft lip. Satisfactory correction of the bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity is usually obtained by lengthening the columella (which secondarily corrects a flat nasal tip) and narrowing the width of the nose at the level of the alae. Satisfactory restoration to normal is usually obtained by the aforementioned procedure.