Diagnosis and classification of congenital craniofacial cleft deformities

Classification and diagnosis of congenital craniofacial cleft deformities are helpful in discerning the severity of the deformity and providing guidance for surgical repair. Eighty-one cases of congenital craniofacial cleft deformity were analyzed using the Tessier classification. Depending on the location, status of the deformity, and results of examinations such as computed tomography, according to the range affected, the location and status of the deformity were designated by the STO classification, with S for skin, T for soft tissue, and O for os (craniofacial bone). The severity of the deformity is delineated by Arabic numerals. The analysis of 81 cases by the STO classification method showed that suborbital deformities mainly were Tessier 3 and 4 clefts (24.70%) and supraorbital deformities mainly were Tessier 9 and 10 clefts (38.27%). There was no definite regular pattern for the affected extent of tissues. STO classification can be a supplement to Tessier classification and can provide references for the surgical repair of craniofacial cleft deformity.