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Preoperative lip taping in the cleft lip
1Department of Plastic Surgery, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI.
Annals of Plastic Surgery
|March 1, 1994
Summary
Nonsurgical lip taping shortly after birth effectively mobilizes and approximates soft tissues before cleft lip repair. This method narrows the alveolar arch, often eliminating the need for early orthodontia and surgical lip adhesion.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
- Craniofacial Surgery
Background:
- Primary cleft lip repair involves mobilizing and approximating soft tissues of the lip, nose, and maxilla.
- Traditional methods may include surgical lip adhesion, which carries potential risks and costs.
Observation:
- A nonsurgical method using surgical tape applied to the lip across the cleft shortly after birth has been utilized for 16 years.
- This technique aims to mobilize and approximate soft tissues pre-repair.
Findings:
- Lip taping effectively narrows, remodels, and approximates the alveolar arch.
- This approach eliminates the need for initial orthodontia in most cases, except those with maxillary collapse.
- The method achieves goals of surgical lip adhesion at a lower cost and without additional surgical risk.
Implications:
- Lip taping offers a cost-effective and safe alternative to surgical lip adhesion for primary cleft lip repair.
- Early intervention with lip taping can optimize alveolar arch form, potentially reducing the need for subsequent orthodontic treatment.
- This technique simplifies pre-surgical management in infants with cleft lip.