The Operation Rainbow Canada Technique for Unilateral Cleft Lip Revision

Purpose of this article is to demonstrate the "Operation Rainbow Canada" cleft lip revision technique. This is a surgical technique used by Operation Rainbow Canada on volunteer surgical missions in developing nations. We show how to convert previous Millard or straight line cleft lip repairs to a Fisher anatomic subunit repair, placing a favourable scar along the philtrum. We show a case series of results and explain how this technique gives satisfying aesthetic results for patients seeking unilateral cleft lip revision.

This technique combines the principles of the anatomic subunit repair for primary cleft lip repair as described by Fisher and the correction of the cleft nose deformity as described by McComb. We apply these 2 techniques to unilateral cleft lip revision at the same operation.

Patients for revision unilateral lip and nose deformities were treated with this technique over the course of several international surgical missions. There were over 90 cases of revisions performed by our group on previous repaired cleft lips. These procedures were done in India, China, and Cambodia.

Previously repaired cleft lips can be improved by our revision procedure. We show how incorporating 2 triangular flaps to lengthen the cleft side of the repaired lip can be done in a revision setting. During lip revision, McCombs sutures can be placed to improve the aesthetic of the nose and correct the nasal alar dome.