Unilateral cleft lip repair: an anatomical subunit approximation technique

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Craniofacial Surgery
• Pediatric Surgery

Background:

• A novel technique for unilateral cleft lip repair is detailed, synthesizing elements from various existing methods.
• The approach is grounded in the principle of anatomical subunits of the lip for precise reconstruction.
• The technique's versatility is demonstrated across a spectrum of cleft lip deformities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and validate a new technique for unilateral cleft lip repair.
• To showcase the applicability of the described method in various forms of unilateral cleft lip.
• To emphasize the anatomical subunit approach in cleft lip reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• Incisions are strategically placed perpendicular to the cutaneous roll at key landmarks of the medial and lateral lip elements.
• Incisions ascend to create a symmetrical approximation line with the non-cleft philtral column.
• The technique incorporates a Rose-Thompson lengthening effect and allows for vermilion flaps to correct deficiencies.

Main Results:

• The technique has been successfully applied in 144 consecutive unilateral cleft lip repairs since January 2000.
• The inferior triangle created during the repair is consistently small, averaging 1.24 mm.
• The method proves effective for all degrees of unilateral cleft lip deformity.

Conclusions:

• A refined technique for unilateral cleft lip repair is presented.
• The described method facilitates a repair line that respects and utilizes the anatomical subunits of the lip.
• This approach offers a standardized yet adaptable method for cleft lip reconstruction.