A 20-year experience in unilateral cleft lip repair: From Millard to the triple unilimb Z-plasty technique

Philtral Height Discrepancy in Patients with Complete and Incomplete Cleft Lips + /-Palate - Results from a Single Nation Consecutive Cohort

INTRODUCTION

The aim of unilateral cleft lip repair is to restore form and function, including symmetrisation of cleft and non-cleft philtral height. Expectation of best outcome is achieved in situations with minimal asymmetry and is assumed occurs most often in incomplete cleft lip only patients. We sought to investigate philtral height discrepancy (PHD) in children with unilateral cleft lip + /-palate from a single nation cohort.

METHODS

Review of prospectively collected PHD measurements taken at time of surgery for all children undergoing unilateral cleft lip repair in Scotland born Jan 2017-December 2020. Data was collected using Microsoft Excel and analysed using embedded statistical software.

RESULTS

102 consecutive patients with unilateral lip involvement were identified from the national database. 94 had prospectively documented PHD (92.2%). The majority of patients had an isolated cleft lip (51.1%). Incomplete clefts presented more frequently (52.1%) than complete clefts (47.9%). Mean PHD for the whole cohort was 3.91mm (standard deviation 1.01mm, range 1-6mm). The difference in mean PHD (in-complete versus complete) was 1.1mm (3.4 vs. 4.5, p < 0.001). For lip only versus lip and palate the difference in mean PHD was 1.0mm (3.4 vs. 4.4, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This single country consecutive cohort review of PHD in children undergoing unilateral cleft lip repair statistically supports the anecdote that patients with an incomplete cleft lip and isolated cleft lip have lesser asymmetry at presentation. This study presents a consecutive cohort with a greater range of PHD than has previously been reported in the literature.

An ex vivo model for education and training of unilateral cleft lip surgery

BACKGROUND

Unilateral cleft lip surgery is a complex procedure, and the outcome depends highly on the surgeon's experience. Digital simulations and low-fidelity models seem inadequate for effective surgical education and training. There are only few realistic models for haptic simulation of cleft surgery, which are all based on synthetic materials that are costly and complex to produce. Hence, they are not fully available to train and educate surgical trainees. This study aims to develop an inexpensive, widely available, high-fidelity, ex vivo model of a unilateral cleft lip using a porcine snout disc.

METHODS

A foil template was manufactured combining anatomical landmarks of the porcine snout disc and the anatomical situation of a child with a unilateral cleft. This template was used to create an ex vivo model of a unilateral cleft lip from the snout disc. Millard II technique was applied on the model to proof its suitability. The individual steps of the surgical cleft closure were photo-documented and three-dimensional scans of the model were analysed digitally. Sixteen surgical trainees were instructed to create a unilateral cleft model and perform a unilateral lip plasty. Their self-assessment was evaluated by means of a questionnaire.

RESULTS

The porcine snout disc proved highly suitable to serve as a simulation model for unilateral cleft lip surgery. Millard II technique was successfully performed as we were able to perform all steps of unilateral cleft surgery, including muscle suturing. The developed foil-template is reusable on any porcine snout disc. The creation of the ex vivo model is simple and inexpensive. Self-assessment of the participants showed a strong increase in comprehension and an eagerness to use the model for surgical training.

CONCLUSIONS

A porcine snout disc ex vivo model of unilateral cleft lips was developed successfully. It shows many advantages, including a haptic close to human tissue, multiple layers, low cost, and wide and rapid availability. It is therefore very suitable for teaching and training beginners in cleft surgery and subsequently improving surgical skills and knowledge. Further research is needed to finally assess the ex vivo model's value in different stages of the curriculum of surgical residency.

Nasal symmetry after different techniques of primary lip repair for unilateral complete cleft lip with or without cleft of the alveolus and palate: A systematic review

The aim of this systematic review was to establish the effect of different surgical repairs for the lip on nasal symmetry. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Ovid databases search was performed initially for only English-language articles, in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip with or without cleft alveolus and palate (UCCLAP) who were younger than 1 year of age and undergoing cleft lip repair, and are published from the earliest data available up to December 31, 2020. The primary outcome variable was nasal symmetry, with reported complications being secondary variables. A qualitative synthesis was provided. A total of 19,828 records were obtained, and 17 articles were selected for final review. Assessment of the risk of bias of the included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (N-1) was done with the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB-2) tool, and the ROBINS-I tool was used for non-randomized studies (n = 14). Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was applied to evaluate the quality of the body of evidence. The majority of the included studies compared the triangular repair with the rotation advancement (RA) techniques, and preferred RA or its modifications. In terms of the nasal symmetry, the Fisher repair proved to be superior to the RA technique. Neither RA nor straight line repair was superior to one another. The Delaire technique may be preferred over the modified RA. Also, satisfactory outcomes were observed with simultaneous lip-nose repair. This systematic review examined a plethora of techniques, and the heterogeneity between studies was very high regarding type of surgery, method of nasal symmetry assessment, and length of follow-up, thus producing low-quality evidence; therefore, results should be interpreted with caution. Future research requires RCTs with larger sample sizes and appropriate length of follow-up, and surgeries preferably performed by a single experienced surgeon.

Nasolabial Appearance in 5-Year-Old Patients with Repaired Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: A Comparison of Two Different Techniques of Lip Repair

Different surgical techniques are available to adequately correct the primary cleft lip deformity; however, when compared, none of these techniques have proven superior with regard to achieving optimal aesthetic results. Thus, the aim of this retrospective study was to assess the nasolabial appearance in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) at age five with reference to two techniques for primary cleft lip repair used in our service: Pfeifer’s wave-line procedure and Randall’s technique. A modified Asher–McDade Aesthetic Index was applied to appraise the nasolabial area by means of 2D photographs of non-syndromic five-year-old patients with a UCLP. In this context, three parameters were assessed: 1. nasal frontal view; 2. shape of the vermilion border and philtrum length; and 3. the nasolabial profile. Five professionals experienced in cleft care were asked to rate the photographs on two occasions. Overall, 53 patients were included in the final analysis, 28 of whom underwent lip repair according to Pfeifer; 25 were treated employing Randall’s technique. Statistically significant differences between the two techniques regarding philtrum length and vermilion border were found (p = 0.046). With reference to the other parameters assessed, no significant differences were determined. The results suggest that Randall’s cleft lip repair may allow for more accurate alignment of the vermilion border and more adequate correction of the cleft lip length discrepancy in comparison to Pfeifer’s wave-line technique.

Closure of cleft lips with Pfeifer's wave line technique does not inhibit upper lip growth: A retrospective study

The aim of this study is to describe the growth of the upper lip after reconstruction with a Pfeifer wave-line incision in patients with unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate (CL/P) in the long term. This was a longitudinal, monocentric, retrospective study. Metric standardized lip length measurements were taken annually from the age of 6 months to the age of 16 years. Defined anatomical points were determined which describe the lip length from the nasal entrance to the highest point of the Cupid's bow. The lip length of the unaffected side in unilateral cleft patients was taken as control. A total of 234 patients with cleft lip with/without cleft palate (CL/P) were included in the study. At the time of the primary surgery, the medial sides in unilateral clefts were 2-4 mm and the lateral sides 1.5-2 mm shorter than the normal unaffected side (p≤0.001). Two main periods of growth, one during childhood (first to sixth years) and one during adolescence (12th-16th years) were seen. At the age of 16 years, the end of the observation period, the lip length in unilateral clefts resulted in a clinically not noticeable shortening of the cleft side (0.37±0.26 mm). There was no correlation between lip length development and primary cleft width at the time of primary cleft lip surgery at 6 months. The upper lip in patients with bilateral clefts developed symmetrically without any obvious asymmetry. Both sides showed a lip length difference of 0.1±0.05 mm at the age of 16 years (p=0.1). Compared to the upper lip length of the control group, bilateral clefts showed a slight tendency toward a longer upper lip (p=0.52). Within the limitations of the study it seems that when lip length development is a priority in cleft lip surgery, Pfeifer wave-line procedure is good option to achieve symmetric results in unilateral and bilateral cleft lip surgery and, therefore, is a relevant option among a variety of other techniques.

Primary Cleft Rhinoplasty: Surgical Outcomes and Complications Using Three Techniques for Unilateral Cleft Lip Nose Repair

BACKGROUND

This study represents a single surgeon's 10 years of experience addressing unilateral cleft lip and palate nose deformity. The purpose was to compare surgical outcomes and related complications using 3 different techniques to improve nasal shape in primary unilateral cleft rhinoplasty.

METHODS

This retrospective study with Institutional Ethical Committee approval compares 3 groups of patients with unilateral cleft lip nose and palate who were operated on using different techniques from 2007 to 2017. Surgical outcomes were analyzed by physical examination at least 1 year after primary rhinoplasty. Anthropometric measurements were obtained for the cleft and noncleft sides of the nose.

RESULTS

Approach with general analysis indicated differences among the 3 techniques. The author's comparative study revealed differences in nose symmetry and related complications, including increased recurrence of nose deformity using the modified McComb technique. Better short-term nose symmetry was observed using Potter technique and the V-Y-Z rhinoplasty.

CONCLUSIONS

Potter approach and the V-Y-Z techniques achieve better short-term nose symmetry than the McComb method. Complications were less common in the group of patients operated on using the modified McComb technique. Additional studies are required to evaluate functional and long-term outcomes after primary rhinoplasty using the proposed methods.

The Triple Unilimb Z Plasty Technique for Severe Forms of Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair

BACKGROUND

A wide spectrum of variation of the unilateral cleft lip deformity requires an individualized management. Current classifications for unilateral cleft lip are limited to incomplete or complete, and these descriptions do not address well this deformity. The soft tissue deficiency is not considered, which plays an important role in the surgical correction of the unilateral cleft lip. The author developed an innovative technique for surgical correction of unilateral cleft lip with severe soft tissue deficiency.

METHODS

Since 2007, 168 patients with severe unilateral cleft lip have been operated on by the author, using the proposed surgical technique. The author's classification of severity considers a severe unilateral cleft lip as a discrepancy between the non-cleft and cleft vertical height greater than 6 mm. The technique uses 2 Z plasties for the upper lip and 1 Z plasty for vermillion repair.

RESULTS

This method lets the surgeon to achieve an adequate symmetry of the upper lip. A low rate of revision (14.88%) has been observed for 13 years, using the proposed surgical technique, by the author.

CONCLUSIONS

An innovative technique to address severe forms of unilateral cleft lip is presented in this article. This method represents a good alternative for cleft lips with increased lateral segment tissue deficiency, providing adequate lip symmetry.

The Surgical Nasoalveolar Molding: A Rational Treatment for Unilateral Cleft Lip Nose Deformity and Literature Review

The purposes of this study were to evaluate surgical outcomes after primary surgery to address unilateral cleft lip, nose, and palate deformities and to perform a review of the literature to evaluate the effects of nasoalveolar molding (NAM) plus primary surgical repair on nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate.

METHODS

A cohort study of 37 primary complete unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity repairs was performed by a single surgeon. The outcomes were anthropometric measurements of the repaired lip, nose, and alveolar cleft width at the age of 1 and 5 years. A review of the literature was performed for studies published until March 2020 to evaluate the effect of presurgical NAM on nasolabial aesthetics.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences were observed between pre- and postoperative columellar angle and alveolar cleft width. A total of 308 studies were identified, and 8 were included in the final analysis of 684 patients. The overall study quality was low according to the Oxford Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine, and GRADE level of evidence was low.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary cheilorhinoplasty alone is a good approach to improve nose appearance and alveolar gap in patients with unilateral cleft lip nose and palate deformity. Definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of presurgical NAM cannot be drawn. Available scientific evidence is not sufficient to demonstrate that combined use of presurgical nasoalveolar molding and primary surgery provides better nasolabial aesthetic outcomes than does primary surgery alone.

Primary unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity repair using V-Y-Z plasty: An anthropometric study

Background:

Secondary nose deformity after unilateral cleft lip repair is a common problem. Loss of tip projection on the cleft side of unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity can be difficult to correct due to lack of adequate support. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the surgical outcome after using V-Y-Z plasty to address unilateral cleft lip nasal deformities.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study of one surgeon's outcome of 58 performed primary complete unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity repairs. All these patients met the study criterion of having anthropometric measurements at the cleft and non-cleft side of the nose performed at least 1 year postoperatively.

Results:

Since 2012, 32 consecutive patients have undergone primary anatomical repair of the cleft nasal deformity in patients with a complete unilateral cleft. We have not found statistically significant differences between the cleft and non-cleft nostril dome height and columella length measured at least 1 year postoperatively.

Conclusions:

The findings suggest that the V-Y-Z plasty is a good alternative to create a more symmetric nasal tip in patients with primary unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity. Additional studies are required to evaluate functional and long-term outcomes after primary rhinoplasty in patients with unilateral cleft lip.

Two Methods of Cleft Palate Repair in Patients With Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare the surgical outcome between 2 patient groups with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate who underwent different types of palatoplasty.

METHODS

This is a cohort study between 2 groups of patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate who were operated using different surgical techniques from 2008 to 2011. About 28 patients were operated using a primary lip nose repair with vomer flap for hard palate single-layer closure and delayed soft palate repair (modified Oslo protocol) and 32 patients were operated using our protocol in Lima. Data collection was accomplished by evaluation of symptomatic oronasal fistulas, presence of velopharyngeal insufficiency and evaluation of dental arch relationships (scored using the 5-year-olds' index).

RESULTS

Our comparative study observed statistically significant differences between the 2 groups regarding the presence of oronasal fistulas and velopharyngeal insufficiency in favor of our palatoplasty technique. A statistically significant difference was not found in functional vestibular oronasal fistula development between the studied techniques for unilateral cleft palate repair. This comparative study did not observe significant differences in dental arch relationships between the studied techniques.

CONCLUSION

In this study, better surgical outcome than modified Oslo protocol regarding oronasal fistulas and velopharyngeal insufficiency on patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate was observed. The results arising from this study do not provide evidence that one technique is enough to obtain better functional closure of the alveolar cleft and dental arch relationship at 5 years.