The median cleft of the mandible and lower lip is an extremely rare congenital maxillofacial deformity, and the therapeutic options are controversial. To evaluate the clinical characteristics and identify a better choice of treatment modes used among us and others, we reviewed 34 relevant literature and herein describe a 17-year follow-up of a case with a median cleft of the mandible and lower lip. Based on the literature and our case with good functional and aesthetical outcomes, we propose a prospective clinical treatment: Patients of Tessier 30 cleft associated with cleft of the mandible could undergo mandibular repair after puberty in conditions of a good occlusal relationship and normal maxillofacial development, even with mild masticatory dysfunction.
Keywords: Tessier 30 cleft; lower lip; mandible; median cleft.