Egyptian patients with cleft lip: our experience with primary rhinoplasty

Controversy exists regarding the timing of rhinoplasty for patients with cleft lip as some surgeons shy away from primary correction for fear of causing harm to the growth of the nose and the maxilla. We present our favorable experience with primary rhinoplasty with repair of unilateral cleft lip in Ain Shams University plastic surgery department, providing insights into the specific management of patients of middle eastern descent.

Prospective study of 32 patients, ages 3 months- 1 year with unilateral CL presenting to Ain Shams University hospitals between January 2019 and July 2022. Primary rhinoplasty was performed at the time of lip repair. Lip repair was done by Tennison-Randall technique. Evaluation of results was done by expert analysis of photographs, anthropometric measurements, and parents' satisfaction.

Over-all concordance rate was 93% and inter-observer concordance was 89%. Non-significant differences were found between cleft and noncleft sides regarding nostril dome height, columellar length, and alar width 6 months post-operatively. 81.25% of the parents were very satisfied with the results.

Our study targeted a cohort of Egyptian patients with unilateral cleft lip, who underwent primary rhinoplasty and the time of lip repair, showing favorable results, supporting the literature advocating for this timing, but limited by relatively short follow up period. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study in Egypt to highlight the outcomes and direct experience for primary rhinoplasty with cleft lip repair in an Egyptian population.