Secondary Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair Using a Novel Neurovascular Protection Method: A Three-Dimensional Evaluation

We proposed a novel neurovascular protection technique based on the intramuscular neurovascular partitions of the upper lip in nasolabial muscle biomechanical bionic surgery for secondary unilateral cleft lip repair. The aim of this study was to describe this modification and evaluate the short-term and long-term outcomes compared with the results of traditional repair.

A total of 44 patients with secondary unilateral cleft lips were included in this study, and were divided into 2 groups: 22 patients treated with the traditional repair, and the other 22 treated with the modified technique. In all, 11 items of nasolabial measurements were recorded pre-surgery, 1 week after surgery, and at least half a year post-surgery with 3D photographs to evaluate the lip-nose appearance of the patients.

A week after surgery, the measurements of both groups showed significant improvement compared with pre-surgery, among which a statistically significant ( P <0.05) difference between the 2 groups was detected in the columellar angle. Longer-term follow-ups revealed statistical significance ( P <0.05) in alar width ratio, lip peak height ratio, columellar angle, and philtral depth, suggesting better results in the new technique.

The modified technique can achieve long-term improvement of the nasolabial morphology and functions in patients with secondary cleft lips.