Correction of secondary bilateral complete cleft lip and whistling deformities: the advance and rearrangement of the bilateral lip tissues

Abstract

Background: This report introduces a new method for correcting secondary deformities of bilateral complete cleft lip (BCCL) and assesses its short-term results.

Methods: In this series, 30 patients (21 males and 9 females) ages 4-27 years (mean age 14 years, 2 months) who had previously undergone surgery to correct BCCL using the lateral columellar flap method or the straight-line method were treated using the authors' new curved-line method. Points were marked, and curved lines were used to link the points, with subsequent rearrangement of the lip tissues. Photographic documentation of lip heights was obtained before and after surgery, and short-term patient satisfaction was evaluated using a questionnaire.

Results: At 6 months, the mean increases in central upper vermilion height and the vermilion heights of Cupid's bow points were 152 ± 20% (central upper vermilion), 87 ± 34% (left Cupid's bow point), and 91 ± 5% (right Cupid's bow point) (P ≤ 0.05). Of the 30 patients, 21 were very satisfied with their results, whereas seven patients graded their results as good.

Conclusions: The technique of advancing and rearranging the bilateral lip tissues is a simple and effective method for correcting secondary deformities of BCCL.