Correction of lip and nasal deformities in bilateral cleft operated with Le Mesurier procedure

Bilateral cleft lip surgery recently evolved with the generalization of cheilorhinoplasty replacing cheiloplasty alone. The aim of this study was to analyze lip and nasal deformities of bilateral cleft lip operated on with the Le Mesurier procedure, and then to evaluate possible secondary surgical solutions used in our Cleft Center.

We retrospectively reviewed a total of 39 patients born between 1991 and 2009 with a bilateral cleft all type included (isolated lip, lip and alveolar, associated or not with a cleft palate), all treated at the Caen University Hospital with a Le Mesurier procedure for the primary cleft lip closure. We studied population characteristics, the number of secondary surgical procedures for lip and nasal deformities. We analysed therapeutic approaches of the different secondary surgical procedures used and their morphological results.

85% of patients needed at least one secondary surgical procedure, 28% two procedures, 15% three procedures and 8% four or more procedures. Median age at secondary surgery was 6,8. 79% had a "scar repositioning", 33% managed the vermilion, 18% a restoration of the volume of the lip, 12% a philtral tissue sacrifice, 9% a procedure on Cupid's bow, 24% a surgery for nasal tip projection, 45% a columella lengthening and 58% a reposition of the alar base.

Le Mesurier procedure for bilateral clefts leads to deformities that require secondary surgical procedures. We propose an algorithm to manage loop scar in this procedure.