[Laser navigation guided cleft lip repair]

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Medical Technology
• Surgical Navigation

Background:

• Cleft lip repair presents challenges in achieving optimal aesthetic and functional outcomes.
• Accurate anatomical referencing is crucial for correcting labial-nasal distortions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a new laser navigation method for cleft lip repair.
• To assess the efficacy of the ideal mid-facial line as a surgical reference.

Main Methods:

• A laser projection system was developed to identify the ideal mid-facial line.
• The vertical coordinate of the intercanthus line's midpoint was used for navigation.
• Surgeons utilized the laser line to guide correction of labial-nasal structures.

Main Results:

• The laser navigation method proved repeatable and did not impede surgical workflow.
• It enabled precise observation and correction of fine structures in the labial-nasal area.
• Improved outcomes in cleft lip repair were observed using this technique.

Conclusions:

• Generalizing laser navigation is a valuable supplementary tool for cleft lip repair.
• This technique offers a repeatable and non-interfering approach to enhance surgical precision.
• The ideal mid-facial line serves as an effective reference for improving surgical outcomes.