Rotation-transposition correction of nasal deformity in Tessier number 1 and 2 clefts

To formulate a standardized procedure for repair of the nasal component of Tessier number 1 and 2 clefts.

The procedure was performed from 1998 to 2007 in 13 patients with congenital nasal clefts of different degrees of expression corresponding to Tessier 1 and 2. The patients' ages ranged from 3 months to 28 years. There were 10 male and three female patients. In the absence of any standard published technique for these rare defects, we devised our own method, which we find uniformly applicable to all such cases. We use a composite muco-chondro-cutaneous lateral alar flap to recreate the alar rim. The resulting defect on the lateral nasal wall is then covered with a transposition flap from the dorsum. An alar rim z-plasty was added in cases where notching was evident.

In all cases, no problem of flap viability was encountered and all healed well with minimal scarring. The postoperative results were satisfactory and have remained stable over an average 6-month follow-up period.

We recommend this technique to be used for the correction of nasal deformity associated with Tessier clefts number 1 and 2. We feel that this technique is relatively simple and easily reproducible.