Cleft Lip Repair: Technical Refinements for the Wide Cleft

Abstract

Clefts of the lip and palate are among the most common congenital malformations. A unilateral deformity is the most common type of cleft, but even within this subgroup there is a great deal of variety due to the accompanying severe distortion of the upper lip, cheek, nose, and maxilla. To repair such a variety of clefts with good aesthetic results, several general incisional approaches should be mastered along with a variety of subtle techniques that improve the end product. The most common repair utilized in America is the Millard rotation-advancement technique. This is partly due to the perceived superiority in results compared with other repairs and the ease with which this repair can be taught to residents. This repair places the scar along an artificial philtral column and is often quite sufficient in small clefts. Unfortunately, adoption of this “one size fits all” approach can limit the arsenal of the surgeon facing the vast array of differing cleft lip deformities. For example, the modified triangular flap, or Tennison-Randall repair, can be of value when presented with the wider unilateral cleft lip. In an effort to not only demonstrate that excellent results can be achieved when incisional patterns (Millard and Tennison) are used appropriately (small versus large clefts), we compared the results of two types of repairs, performed by a single surgeon over a period of 30 years. In addition, a variety of subtle techniques are reviewed to assist in obtaining excellent aesthetic results for any size repair.