Digital Workflow for Customized Nasal Conformers in Cleft Lip Repair

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Digital Dentistry

Background:

• Unilateral cleft lip repair can lead to nasal asymmetry and airway issues.
• Maintaining nasal symmetry and airway patency is crucial for optimal outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a digital workflow for fabricating a customized unilateral nasal conformer.
• To evaluate the efficacy of the conformer in improving nasal symmetry and airway patency post-cleft lip repair.

Main Methods:

• A silicone impression was taken and scanned to create a standard tessellation language (STL) file.
• The nasal conformer was designed using mirroring and offset techniques in 3-Matics software.
• The conformer was 3D printed using polymethylmethacrylate and fixed intraoperatively.

Main Results:

• The customized conformer successfully maintained nostril patency.
• Improved nasal symmetry and reduced relapse were observed postoperatively.
• Enhanced nasolabial esthetics and stable airway support were achieved.

Conclusions:

• The digital workflow provides an effective method for fabricating customized nasal conformers.
• This approach aids in achieving better functional and esthetic outcomes following unilateral cleft lip repair.
• The conformer is a valuable tool for managing nasal symmetry and airway support.