Growth of the cleft lip following a triangular flap repair

This study involves 50 children who had a triangular flap repair for unilateral cleft lip. They have been followed for 5 to 14 years by serial measurements, photographs, and clinical evaluation. During the first 5 years, the lips were designed to allow for future growth. The expected growth did not occur. During the second 5 years, the lip length was designed equal to the normal side with the belief that unequal growth does not occur. In this group, the results supported the premise that deviation from the correct lip length would now be equally divided between too long and too short. None of the entire group has a lip which started too short becoming equal or starting equal to become too long. It is the conclusion of the authors that a repaired unilateral cleft lip retains the configuration and length determined at the time of the initial repair.