Four-dimensional changes of nasolabial positions in unilateral cleft lip and palate

Three-dimensional Assessment of Longitudinal Surgical Outcome in Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: A Modified Rotation Advancement Technique

BACKGROUND

Optimization of a modified rotation advancement technique is hampered by lack of objective measures to quantify the longitudinal surgical outcome.

METHODS

We collected and assessed facial 3D images of 115 consecutive patients who underwent primary repair between 2017 and 2019. Photogrammetry was performed preoperatively, immediately postoperatively and at a first and second follow-up interval, occurring at an average year of 0.6 and 5.3 years, respectively. 10 additional age-matched noncleft control subjects were also included.

RESULTS

Growth lag in cleft side lateral lip and gradual elongation of medial lip height on the cleft side caused continuous deviation of philtrum towards the cleft side. The columellar length on the cleft side continued to grow slower, accompanied by a persistent widening of alar base width on the cleft side, leading to in the gradual deviation of columella towards the cleft side. The pre-operative and post-operative nasolabial asymmetry would increase with greater degree of postoperative deficiencies. Right clefts presented with greater degrees of deficiencies in lateral lip height in preoperative measurement, but this discrepancy of the laterality of clefts was not observed in the two follow-up periods.

CONCLUSION

The surgical outcome of this modified rotational advancement technique in unilateral cleft lip primary repair is promising. Growth lag in lateral lip and lateral displacement of alar base cause continuous deviation of philtrum towards the cleft side. Pre-operative severity does predict post-operative outcomes. Laterality of oral clefts does not significantly affect the long-term outcomes of surgery.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATION

This surgical technique meets the current trend of cleft lip and palate primary repair and is worth promoting.

Novel Reconstruction of Orbicularis Oris in Unilateral Complete Cleft Lip Repair

Background: Orbicularis oris muscle repair is key to successful unilateral cleft lip repair. Objective: To measure the lip symmetry after repair of the lip muscles in the midline compared with traditional repair on the cleft side. Methods: A retrospective review and photographic analysis of patients with complete cleft lip treated with the modified approach were carried out. Anthropometric analysis was done at pre-, immediate, and 1-year postoperatively, and at 1-year follow-up. Four upper lip and six nostril landmarks were measured. Results: Fourteen patients met inclusion criteria. Immediate postoperatively, the horizontal lip length on the cleft side was shorter than that on the noncleft side, but the discrepancy decreased as facial development progressed over the course of a year. Lip measurements at the 1-year follow-up were approximately symmetrical in vertical lip height, philtral height, and lateral lip height. Small changes in the nasal correction occurred at 1 year. Conclusion: A modified technique in the unilateral complete cleft lip repair seeks to balance the perinasal and perioral muscles and improve symmetric outcomes.

Growth patterns of the nasolabial region following unilateral cleft lip primary repair

Surgical correction is the optimal way of repairing a congenital cleft lip. Patients with this condition often undergo initial surgical treatment at an early age and achieve an acceptable outcome. However, their levels of satisfaction will decrease in later stages of life as facial growth and development will inevitably cause changes in long-term outcomes, especially in the nasolabial region. Therefore, it is important for surgeons to understand nasolabial development after primary treatment and tailor their surgical techniques appropriately. This review focuses on the growth patterns of the nasolabial region after primary repair, so as to provide references for operative strategy.

Preoperative analysis of upper lip in patients with upper cleft lip/palate before lip repair

Background

The postoperative morphological appearances vary widely patients with unilateral cleft lip with or without cleft palate (UCL/P), whether it is complete or incomplete cleft. The main reason of bilateral lip asymmetry after cleft lip surgery lies in the lack of personalized measurement and design before surgery. In this study, we aim to individually investigate areas of the upper lip on cleft and non-cleft sides in patients with unilateral cleft lip with or without cleft palate (UCL/P).

Methods

Ninety-two patients with UCL/P (group 1: <1 year, group 2: 1–2 years) were included in the study. Group 1 included 37 patients with incomplete UCL/P and 29 with complete UCL/P; group 2 included 11 and 15 patients, respectively. The total area of the upper lip on the cleft side (Q8) was divided into Q3, Q4, and Q5 (further divided into a1 and a2), and the upper lip on the non-cleft side (Q7) was divided into Q2 and Q1 (further divided into A1 and A2). Area ratios between the cleft and the non-cleft sides were calculated, and certain parameters were tested for correlations with these ratios.

Results

Values of Q8/Q7 were partially overlapped between patients with complete and incomplete UCL/P. Significant correlations were noted between differences in height of the philtrum column (a–h) and the prolabial area ratio between the cleft and the non-cleft side (Q3/Q2) (P=0.032). Moreover, a significant correlation was noted between a1/A1 and the ratio of the lateral labial area between the cleft and the non-cleft side (Q5/Q1) (P=0.001).

Conclusions

The conventional classification of unilateral cleft lip as incomplete and complete does not completely and accurately reflect individual malformations. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze unilateral cleft lips individually to determine the repair technique and to predict postoperative outcomes.

Unilateral Cleft Lip Nasal Deformity: Three-Dimensional Analysis of the Primary Deformity and Longitudinal Changes following Primary Correction of the Nasal Foundation

BACKGROUND

Objective assessment of the unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity and the longitudinal changes with treatment is critical for optimizing cleft care.

METHODS

Consecutive patients undergoing cleft lip repair and foundation-based rhinoplasty were included (n = 102). Three-dimensional images preoperatively, postoperatively, and at 5 years of age were assessed and compared to age-matched controls. Images were normalized to standard horizontal, craniocaudal, and anteroposterior axes.

RESULTS

Cleft subalare was similar in position relative to controls but was 1.6 mm retrodisplaced. Subnasale was deviated 4.6 mm lateral to midline and had the greatest displacement of any landmark. Noncleft subalare was displaced 2.3 mm laterally. Regression analysis with deviation of subnasale from the midline as a dependent variable revealed progressive lateral displacement of noncleft subalare, narrowing of noncleft nostril, and intercanthal widening. Surgery corrected nasal base displacements along all axes, resulting in landmark positions similar to controls. Symmetry of nasal base correction persisted at 5-year follow-up, with no recurrent cleft alar base retrusion, regardless of initial cleft type.

CONCLUSIONS

Unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity may be "driven" by displacement of the anterior nasal spine and caudal septum. The cleft alar base is normal in position but retruded, whereas the noncleft alar base is displaced laterally. Changes with surgery involve anterior movement of the cleft alar base but also include medial movement of the noncleft alar base and columella. Symmetry of correction, including alar base retrusion, was stable over time and did not rely on alveolar bone grafting.

Force balance reconstruction of the orbicularis oris in unilateral incomplete cleft lip

PURPOSE

To demonstrate a maneuver for achieving optimal force balance of reconstructed orbicularis oris during primary unilateral incomplete cleft lip reconstruction.

METHODS

The surgical maneuver was performed as follows: the length of the orbicularis oris on the noncleft side is first isolated and adjusted to be equal to the length of the muscle on the cleft side. The remaining muscle from the noncleft side near the midline is used to fill in the vermilion tubercle, and finally, the two orbicularis oris muscles are sutured at the midline. Finite element analysis was utilized to model the biomechanics of our novel surgical method.

RESULTS

Finite element analysis showed that when the lengths of two orbicularis oris muscles were the same after primary cleft lip repair, the stress on this muscle system was minimized under different lip conformations. Seventeen cleft lip patients were enrolled to receive reconstruction with this new maneuver. Significant differences were found in (1) noncleft/cleft alar base width, nasal dorsum angle, columella length relationship between two sides, and columella angle under the comparison between preoperative and postoperative; (2) noncleft/cleft alar base width, nasal dorsum angle, and columella angle under the comparison between preoperative and follow-up; and (3) columella length relationship between two sides under the comparison between postoperative and follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Force balance of the orbicularis oris muscles is important during unilateral incomplete cleft lip repair. This surgical maneuver for achieving force balance of the orbicularis oris and the muscle system of the lips is easy to perform and can help avoid relapses.

Evaluation of nasolabial aesthetics by different groups in operated unilateral cleft lip and palate

AIM

The aim of this study is to evaluate and to compare the perception of nasolabial aesthetic by experienced professionals, inexperienced professionals, cleft patients and laypersons in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) using the Asher-McDade Scoring System.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, 75 patients who applied to Ege University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics and whose primary surgery operations were completed in Ege University, Faculty of Medicine Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, were evaluated from the extra-oral and profile photographs. All photographs were arranged according to Asher-McDade Scoring System and evaluated by 4 different groups. 5 people were evaluated in each group consisting of experienced professionals, inexperienced professionals, cleft patients and the laypersons. Nasal form, nasal deviation, vermilion border and nasal profile were evaluated in 5 different categories according to Asher-McDade Scoring System. Statistical analyzes were performed using STATA 11 and MEDCALC software. G Power, Fleiss Kappa, Weighted Kappa and Friedman statistical analyzes were performed for determination of number of individuals, interobserver and intraobserver reliability and comparison of scoring between groups, respectively.

RESULTS

In this study, the interobserver agreement was found to be between 0.75 and 0.80 that shows a high degree of reliability. In the comparision made between the groups; experienced professionals and inexperienced professionals; there was moderate agreement in nasal profile scoring (WK 0.2857) (-0.9673/0.6596). There was agreement between experienced professionals and cleft patients in mostly vermilion border (WK 0.5454) (-0.1643/1.0000). There was no agreement between vermilion border between inexperienced professionals and cleft patients (WK 0.9230) (-1.0000/-0.2878), and compliance with the nasal profile mostly (WK 0.5454) (-0.1643/1.0000). There was a similar insignificant agreement between experienced and inexperienced professionals, cleft patients among the laypersons, at all values (WK 0,0000) (-0.0000/0.0000). According to the scoring results of the photographs for experienced professionals; nasal form, nasal deviation, vermilion border and nasal profile were evaluated as bad and close the bad (4.00±0.00, 3.80±0.44, 3.80±0.44, 3.60±0.54); it was found fair and near the bad for inexperienced professionals (3.00±0.00, 3.00±0.00, 3.40±0.54 3.20±0.44) and close the bad for cleft patients (3.60±0.54, 3.80±0.44, 3.80±0.44, 3.40±0.54). But it was found to be acceptable and good for laypersons (2.00±0.00, 2.00±0.00, 2.40±0.54, 1.40±0.54). Laypersons showed statistically significant difference in the evaluation of nasal form, nasal deviation and nasal profile from the cleft patients (P<0.05), while they showed statistically significant difference in all the score from the experienced professionals (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The aesthetic appearance of nasolabial region is one of the important tools to evaluate the success of the treatment in patients with CLP. The success of primary surgery has one of the most important effects for nasolabial aesthetics on patients with clefts. As a result of the study, the evaluation of cleft patients was found to be similar to that of experienced professionals and lower than that of inexperienced professionals and the laypersons. This result shows us that patients with CLP have higher awareness of self-perception, but these patients may have psychosocial problems ranging from low self-esteem to social isolation risk.

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.