Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair: Reproducibility, Accessibility, and Durability

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Craniofacial Surgery
• Pediatric Surgery

Background:

• Global disparities in cleft lip care persist due to limited surgical expertise, equipment, and anesthesia access.
• Equitable and effective cleft lip repair necessitates simplified, reliable, and reproducible surgical techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a refined, time-tested technique for primary unilateral cleft lip (UCL) repair.
• To provide a reproducible and accessible method for consistent UCL repair outcomes across diverse healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• The described technique, refined over four decades, emphasizes simplified surgical markings.
• Incorporates the Hamdan Sliding V-Cheiloplasty for precise orbicularis oris muscle repair.
• Features a cartilage-sparing rhinoplasty approach including specific flap and suture techniques (ABFSS).

Main Results:

• The technique yields consistent results across all cleft severities, including wide clefts.
• Demonstrates applicability in various healthcare settings, enhancing provider capabilities.
• Promotes durable primary UCL repair through its reproducible and accessible nature.

Conclusions:

• This refined UCL repair technique offers a sustainable solution for equitable global cleft care.
• Its ease of teaching and application empowers healthcare providers to achieve reliable outcomes.
• The method addresses the need for durable primary repairs, reducing revisions and improving patient quality of life.