Our Surgical Repair for Macrostomia with Two Novel Small Triangular Flaps: Long-Term Follow-Up and Results

The surgical methods for repairing congenital macrostomia should be carefully selected from both functional and aesthetic points of view. The surgical correction of macrostomia results in normal orbicularis oris function and symmetry of the repaired lip. In this article, the authors report their novel technique and the results obtained, assessed retrospectively. Twelve primary cases of macrostomia underwent surgical repair between 1996 and 2013. The age at surgery ranged from 3 to 78 months. The authors' operative procedure uses two small triangular flaps with a superficial layer of orbicularis muscle to preserve the dynamic action of muscle fibers attached to the skin of the triangular flaps, with suturing across the orbicularis muscle bundles. The optimal length of a medial small triangular flap is 1.5 to 2.0 mm, and the length of a lateral flap is 5 to 8 mm. Evaluation was based on the degree of symmetry of the lips as a ratio of the affected side to the unaffected side, and the scar characteristics. The follow-up period in this retrospective study ranged from 3 to 21 years. The same method was applied to all 12 cases in the reconstruction of a natural appearance and dynamic function of the oral commissure, and the results over several years showed satisfactory outcomes. The authors' technique is very useful in the primary surgery for macrostomia, as the dynamic action of muscle fibers is preserved, if the muscle is not dissected from the skin in the cleft margin that includes the two medial small triangular flaps.

Therapeutic, V.