Our Surgical Repair for Macrostomia with Two Novel Small Triangular Flaps: Long-Term Follow-Up and Results

Reconstruction of Muscles in Patients with Macrostomia

Background: Most of the characteristic facial features of patients with unilateral macrostomia are attributed to the malformation of commissure muscles. This study aimed to evaluate a modified surgical treatment for such patients that focuses on both appearance and symmetry. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with macrostomia underwent surgery using the proposed method. Facial measurements were analyzed preoperatively, 1 week postoperatively, and during a long-term follow-up using statistical software. Results: The overall length ratio of the healthy and affected sides of the vermillion preoperatively, 1 week postoperatively, and during the long-term follow-up was 1:1.61, 1:1.01, and 1:1.00, respectively (all, p > 0.05). The overall angle between the pupil line and the commissure line was 9.90° preoperatively, 2.34° postoperatively, and 3.31° during the long-term follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference in the covering relation of the upper and lower lips between the affected and healthy sides postoperatively (p > 0.05). 3dMD Dynamic Surface Imaging System (3dMD, Atlanta, GA, USA) showed a symmetrical three-dimensional commissure structure during long-term follow-up measurements. Conclusions: The symmetry and appearance of patients with macrostomia commissure significantly improved following this modified surgical method.

Depressor Anguli Oris Function in Oral Macrostomia

ABSTRACT

Unilateral oral macrostomia can present in isolation or conjunction with other craniofacial abnormalities. Common associations include cartilaginous tags and accessory tragi, while the facial nerve is rarely involved. Our work is the first of its kind to report depressor anguli oris paralysis in the setting of oral macrostomia. The authors present 2 cases of unilateral oral macrostomia, with and without contralateral pre-operative depressor anguli oris paralysis, to highlight this often overlooked finding. Furthermore, these cases illustrate the impact of depressor anguli oris paralysis on postoperative outcomes and patient expectations. Depressor anguli oris function can be detected preoperatively and therefore should be weaved into surgical decision-making and used to manage expectations for symmetric facial animation following repair. Further work is required to evaluate the long-term benefits of electromyography and botulinum toxin injections as diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for DAO paralysis.