One-Stage versus Two-Stage Repair of Asymmetric Bilateral Cleft Lip: A 20-Year Retrospective Study of Clinical Outcome

Primary rhinoplasty in patients with bilateral cleft lip: Longitudinal results and comparison between closed and semi-open approaches

BACKGROUND

Although several studies have shown that primary rhinoplasty in patients with cleft lip provides good outcomes with limited effect on nasal growth, the surgical procedure remains to be standardized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of primary semi-open rhinoplasty with Tajima reverse-U incision, compared with that of closed rhinoplasty.

METHODS

Consecutive nonsyndromic patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (n = 52) who underwent primary semi-open rhinoplasty between 2001 and 2016 were reviewed. Patients who underwent primary closed rhinoplasty (n = 61) and control group individuals were recruited for comparison. Computer-based standardized measurements of 2D photographs and panel assessments by laypersons were collected and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

In the comparative analysis at preschool age, semi-open rhinoplasty significantly improved the typical nasal deformities, including transversely oriented wide nostrils, short columella, and de-projected nasal tip, more effectively than closed rhinoplasty. Without major drawbacks, these parameters in the semi-open group were well maintained closer to those in the control group till skeletal maturity. After primary rhinoplasty, 54% of patients in the closed group and 4% in the semi-open group underwent intermediate rhinoplasty at preschool age.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that the patients who underwent primary semi-open rhinoplasty achieved long-term and persistent outcomes that were closer to the normal nasal morphology compared with the patients treated with closed rhinoplasty, while avoiding intermediate rhinoplasty during the preschool to adolescent periods.

Aesthetic evaluation of nasolabial reconstruction using abbe flap in bilateral cleft lip patients with secondary deformities

BACKGROUND

The Abbe flap is a common technique frequently utilized in secondary surgery for bilateral cleft lip deformities, but objective indications for the Abbe flap remain unclear, and postoperative aesthetic evaluations are limited.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 92 bilateral cleft lip patients with secondary deformities aged 7-39 years, and the control group consisted of 33 people aged 19-35 years. Thirteen objective nasolabial aesthetic parameters were selected to evaluate patients' nasolabial aesthetics.

RESULTS

Minor secondary deformities were characterized by a smaller lip height index than severe deformities, as well as a smaller columellar angle compared with moderate and severe deformities (P < 0.05). For all patients, significant differences were found between preoperative and postoperative values of intercanthal distance/medial upper vermilion height ratio, intercanthal distance/medial upper lip height ratio, lip height index, lip vermilion height index, lip protrusion angle, columellar-labial angle, and nasal tip angle (P < 0.05). For patients with minor deformity, intercanthal distance/philtrum width ratio and intercanthal distance/medial cutaneous upper lip height ratio showed no significant change postoperatively (P > 0.05), and labial protrusion angle was smaller than the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing secondary surgery using an Abbe flap achieved good nasolabial aesthetics. Intercanthal distance/medial upper vermilion height ratio, intercanthal distance/medial upper lip height ratio, lip height index, columellar-labial angle, nasolabial angle, nasal tip angle, and columellar angle are the objective aesthetic indicators for Abbe flap selection. Intercanthal distance/philtrum width ratio, intercanthal distance/medial cutaneous upper lip height ratio, and labial protrusion angle are reference parameters for choosing an Abbe flap for secondary bilateral cleft lip revision.

Long-Term Evaluation of the Lip and Nose in Bilateral Complete Cleft Lip Patients following Lip Adhesion and Secondary Nose Correction

Background  Surgical correction of bilateral cleft lip deformities remains one of the most challenging areas in facial plastic surgery. Many surgical techniques and conservative devices have been offered for the early management of bilateral cleft lip in infants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of lip adhesion on the lip and nose of patients with bilateral cleft lip.

Methods  A retrospective review of 13 patients with bilateral cleft lip was performed and compared with age-matched noncleft children. Patients underwent lip adhesion at a mean age of 2.8 months, and cheiloplasty at 6.6 months of age using a modification the Mulliken method. Secondary rhinoplasty was performed at the age of 6 in 13 patients. The surgical results were analyzed using photographic records obtained at the age of 1 and 7 years. Twelve length measurements and one angle measurement were obtained.

Results  All measurements were not statistically different from those of the noncleft age-matched control group at the age of 1. At 7 years of age, upper lip height and vermilion mucosal height were shorter ( p  < 0.05) than in the control group. Nasal tip protrusion and the nasolabial angle were greater ( p  < 0.05) than in the control group.

Conclusion  Lip adhesion followed by secondary rhinoplasty resulted in an acceptable lip and nasal appearance. Although nasoalveolar molding is now widely used, lip adhesion can be an appropriate alternative if an orthodontist is not available due to geographical or economic constraints.

Repair of Asymmetric Bilateral Cleft lip: 1 Stage or 2 Stage

OBJECTIVE

To verify the advantages and indications of 1-stage and 2-stage repair for asymmetric bilateral cleft lip (BCL).

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

From January 2004 to December 2016 in our department.

PATIENTS

Patients with BCL.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Over 6 months after the operation, the surgery outcomes were evaluated and graded by 2 experienced surgeons.

RESULTS

The result of surgery was evaluated using the scoring method of Mortier et al and Anastassov and Chipkov. Among 133 patients with asymmetric BCL, 61 (45.9%) had 1-stage repair and 72 (54.1%) had 2-stage repair. Sixty-eight (51.1%) patients had complete-incomplete cleft lip (CL), and those who underwent 1-stage repair showed a trend of better outcome (P = .028). Fifty (37.6%) patients with incomplete-microform CL showed no significant difference between the outcomes of 2 surgery plans (P = .253). In 15 (11.3%) patients with complete-microform CL, only one had 1-stage repair with a score of 8.5. The other 14 patients with 2-stage repair were scored 3.68 ± 1.28. Two-stage repair was preferable when the deformity degree was very different on 2 sides, as it could reduce unnecessary scar tissue and extend the nasal columella. One-stage repair could help to achieve the anatomical reduction of the orbicularis oris and a better contour of the vermilion tubercle.

CONCLUSION

One-stage repair is recommended for patients with complete-incomplete CL and incomplete-microform CL. Two-stage repair for patients with complete-microform CL is preferred in our center, but more studies are required to support this conclusion.

Innovative Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics in Cleft Palate Tissue Engineering

Clefts of the lip and/or palate are the most prevalent orofacial birth defects occurring in about 1:700 live human births worldwide. Early postnatal surgical interventions are extensive and staged to bring about optimal growth and fusion of palatal shelves. Severe cleft defects pose a challenge to correct with surgery alone, resulting in complications and sequelae requiring life-long, multidisciplinary care. Advances made in materials science innovation, including scaffold-based delivery systems for precision tissue engineering, now offer new avenues for stimulating bone formation at the site of surgical correction for palatal clefts. In this study, we review the present scientific literature on key developmental events that can go awry in palate development and the common surgical practices and challenges faced in correcting cleft defects. How key osteoinductive pathways implicated in palatogenesis inform the design and optimization of constructs for cleft palate correction is discussed within the context of translation to humans. Finally, we highlight new osteogenic agents and innovative delivery systems with the potential to be adopted in engineering-based therapeutic approaches for the correction of palatal defects. Impact statement Tissue-engineered scaffolds supplemented with osteogenic growth factors have attractive, largely unexplored possibilities to modulate molecular signaling networks relevant to driving palatogenesis in the context of congenital anomalies (e.g., cleft palate). Constructs that address this need may obviate current use of autologous bone grafts, thereby avoiding donor-site morbidity and other regenerative challenges in patients afflicted with palatal clefts. Combinations of biomaterials and drug delivery of diverse regenerative cues and biologics are currently transforming strategies exploited by engineers, scientists, and clinicians for palatal cleft repair.

An Intraoperative Rescue Procedure for the Protruding Premaxilla in the Repair of Complete Bilateral Cleft Lip: Rapid Premaxillary Molding

BACKGROUND

Primary reconstruction of complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) with protruding premaxilla in one-stage surgery is challenging because of the tension on muscle repair. Such patients are also common in the developing countries. For this condition, we have applied intraoperative "rapid premaxillary molding (RPM)" technique and obtained satisfactory results.

METHODS

We reviewed the data of patients with complete BCLP with protruding premaxilla applying intraoperative RPM including both our institution and cleft missions to developing countries in the past 20 years. Selection criteria were patients receiving either no or insufficient preoperative molding presenting with significant protruding premaxilla, had consecutive follow-ups after surgery. To perform this technique, the surgeon holds the patient's face with both hands and compresses the protruding premaxilla with both thumbs. An intermittent but stable backward pressure is applied to the premaxilla until the segment is gradually flexible. Repeated compression is performed prior to tying the muscle sutures, at which time the premaxilla is retro-positioned and aligned with the lateral maxillary segments. Pre- and postoperative data were evaluated.

RESULTS

We have treated a total of 60 patients with complete BCLP with protruding premaxilla applying intraoperative RPM. All patients tolerated the operations and there were no major intra- and postoperative complications including lip dehiscence and vomer fracture. All of them had satisfactory results such as adequate muscle repair and symmetry of the lip and nostrils.

CONCLUSION

The RPM is a reliable and valuable intraoperative adjunct procedure for patients with complete BCLP presenting the protrusive premaxilla.

The First-Year Follow-Up of a Cleft Lip and Palate Patient Treated With Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM)

The objectives of pre-surgical orthopedics are to allow surgical repair with minimal tension of the involved tissues and less restriction to the craniofacial growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of nasoalveolar model (NAM) as a pre-operative therapy in a patient with bilateral cleft lip and palate followed by labioplasty and palatoplasty. A 15-day-old patient underwent orthopedic treatment with NAM. After pre-operative treatment, retraction of the pre-maxilla was observed with reduction of the fissure. Due to the successful effects of NAM treatment the patient had a one-step surgery for lip correction. Six months later, due to lip pressure the fissure was further decreased. After six months, the patient underwent palatoplasty. Both surgeries contributed to the remaining closure of the fissure, which were reduced by half compared to the end of pre-operative treatment. The uses of NAM as a pre-operative treatment approached the alveolar segments, centralized the pre-maxilla, decreased the cleft palate resulting in a marked improvement of the arch and provide superior surgical results. In addition, it allows the primary repair of the patient's lip with asymmetric bilateral fissure in only one-step surgery; in consequence, it will reduce treatment morbidity and decrease cost of treatment.

Outcome of facial contour asymmetry after conventional two-dimensional versus computer-assisted three-dimensional planning in cleft orthognathic surgery

Computer-assisted 3D planning has overcome the limitations of conventional 2D planning-guided orthognathic surgery (OGS), but difference for facial contour asymmetry outcome has not been verified to date. This comparative study assessed the facial contour asymmetry outcome of consecutive patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate who underwent 2D planning (n = 37)- or 3D simulation (n = 38)-guided OGS treatment for correction of maxillary hypoplasia and skeletal Class III malocclusion between 2010 and 2018. Normal age-, gender-, and ethnicity-matched individuals (n = 60) were enrolled for comparative analyses. 2D (n = 60, with 30 images for each group) and 3D (n = 43, with 18 and 25 images for 2D planning and 3D simulation groups, respectively) photogrammetric-based facial contour asymmetry-related measurements were collected from patients and normal individuals. The facial asymmetry was further verified by using subjective perception of a panel composed of 6 blinded raters. On average, the facial contour asymmetry was significantly (all p < 0.05) reduced after 3D virtual surgery planning for all tested parameters, with no significant differences between post-OGS 3D simulation-related values and normal individuals. No significant differences were observed for pre- and post-OGS values in conventional 2D planning-based treatment, with significant (all p < 0.05) differences for all normal individuals-related comparisons. This study suggests that 3D planning presents superior facial contour asymmetry outcome than 2D planning.

Dynamic Nasolabial Growth After Primary Surgery for Patients With Bilateral Cleft Lip: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study

PURPOSE

Bilateral complete cleft lip (BCCL) causes severe tissue deficit and usually requires multiple revisions after primary repair. In the present study, we aimed to illustrate the nasolabial changes after primary BCCL correction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The present retrospective cohort study compared patients who had undergone BCCL and palate (BCCLP) and cleft palate only (CPO). All included patients had undergone surgery at the same treatment center (West China Hospital of Stomatology) from 2007 to 2012. The patients returned for follow-up surgery at 6 months and 5 years after their primary repair surgery. We retrieved the facial plaster casts of the enrolled patients and recorded the key nasolabial measurements. The outcome variables included the prolabial length (PL), peak distance, nasal width, and columellar length (CL). The data were analyzed using a general linear model for repeated measures, and the linear association was tested using SPSS. The level of testing efficiency (P value) was set at .05.

RESULTS

A total of 160 patients, 80 who had undergone BCCLP and 80 CPO controls, were included. All nasolabial measurements in the BCCLP group had increased during the 5-year follow-up period. The PL of the BCCLP group had increased more quickly than the PL of the CPO group (P = .000 < .05), but the CL had increased nearly as much (P = .270).

CONCLUSIONS

For the primary correction of bilateral cleft lip nose deformity, dissection and repositioning of the cleft lip and nose did not significantly inhibit the growth of the nasolabial region in the first 5 years after surgery. Nose deformities should not remain uncorrected after primary surgical repair. In contrast, cleft surgeons should focus on the finer adjustment of columella with less doubt regarding adverse effects.