Quantitative evaluation of the shape and the elasticity of repaired cleft lip

Tight lip in repaired cleft lip patients with or without cleft palate (CL[P]) has been discussed as one of the causal factors of maxillary growth retardation and malocclusion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shape and the elasticity of repaired cleft lip quantitatively. Forty-one Japanese CL(P) patients were examined. Fifty-four noncleft patients under orthodontic treatment were used as a control group. An apparatus to stretch the anguli oris bilaterally was devised and the extensibility of the lip was measured to evaluate lip elasticity. Standardized photos of the lips were taken to examine lip shape. CL(P) patients showed poor elasticity of the lip. This trend was more apparent in bilateral CL(P) patients than in unilateral CL(P) patients. The upper lip of CL(P) patients was significantly shorter in vertical height. These results clearly demonstrated the tightness and shortness of the repaired lip in CL(P) patients.