The Presentation Patterns of Tessier 7 Clefts.

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Craniofacial Surgery
• Pediatric Surgery

Background:

• Tessier 7 clefts are rare, limiting large-scale studies.
• Understanding their characteristics is crucial for effective management.
• Previous research has not comprehensively analyzed associated anomalies and surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To classify Tessier 7 clefts and analyze associated anomalies in a cohort of 81 patients.
• To compare findings with existing literature through meta-analysis.
• To provide data assisting clinicians in patient assessment, counseling, and surgical planning.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review and classification of 81 patients with Tessier 7 clefts.
• Analysis of associated anomalies and subsequent surgical procedures.
• Meta-analysis comparing the center's data with 34 published studies (766 patients).

Main Results:

• Middle-positioned Tessier 7 clefts were most frequent, predominantly simple macrostomia (77/81).
• Common anomalies: craniofacial microsomia (80%), skin tags (71%), ear anomalies (37%).
• Meta-analysis revealed higher rates of left-sided clefts, craniofacial microsomia, and simple macrostomia compared to other centers.

Conclusions:

• This study provides valuable classification and association data for Tessier 7 clefts.
• Findings aid in refining surgical strategies and patient counseling.
• Ethnic variations in Tessier 7 cleft presentation and associated anomalies were noted.