In this study, we present a modified technique for primary cleft lip repair with a rotation triangular flap from the cleft lateral side to reconstruct the nasal floor; and evaluate the outcome compared with traditional Millard repair.
40 patients with unilateral cleft lip were included in this research. The patients were divided into 2 groups; 17 patients treated with the Millard technique, and 23 patients treated with the newly modified technique. 14 measurement indexes were employed to evaluate the nose-lip morphology of postoperative patients with UCCL in standardized photographs preoperatively, postoperatively and 1-year follow-up.
For lip symmetry, statistical significance was detected in the measurements of the vertical philtral height ratio indicating that the newly modified technique resolve the shortage of lip height on the cleft side 1-year follow-up. (P < .05). In addition, statistical significance was detected in the 1-year postoperative columellar angle, alar width ratio, nostril width ratio, nostril height ratio, and nostril shape (cleft) (P < .05), showing more successful repair of the nose compared with the traditional repair.
The modified unilateral cleft lip repair with rotation triangle flap from the cleft lateral side was beneficial in the correction of lip and nasal deformity in and had positive effects on labial symmetry.
Keywords: cleft lip repair; primary cleft nasal deformity; rotation advancement.