Simultaneous correction of scars and tissue deficiency with composite grafts in secondary cleft lip deformity

Abstract

Purpose: In secondary cleft lip deformities, repetitive surgeries lead to increased tension and deformities in the upper lip, ultimately resulting in new deformities such as wide scars and a tight lip. The simultaneous correction of a wide scar and tissue deficiency in the upper lip is paradoxical unless sufficient tissue is supplied to the scant upper lip. The authors describe a method to transfer composite tissue for the improvement of secondary cleft lip deformities and present an analysis of the outcomes.

Materials and methods: Ninety-one patients with secondary cleft lip, a wide scar, and tight lip were enrolled. After complete excision of the scar, the defect was covered with a composite graft that included skin and subcutaneous fat. The results were rated by 2 investigators blinded to the image of the scar and the morphology of the upper lip. The skin color of the 25 grafts was analyzed using a narrowband spectrophotometer using the Commission International d'Eclairage L*a*b* color coordinates.

Results: All grafts survived without sequelae. The scores of the scar images and general morphology were 8.3/10 and 8.2/10, respectively. Spectrophotometric analysis displayed no differences between the composite tissues and normal upper lip skin in each color coordinate, indicating that the composite tissue had a good color match with a normal upper lip.

Conclusions: The use of a composite graft on the upper lip can be a reliable option to correct a wide hypertrophic scar and tight lip simultaneously, resulting in a satisfactory scar image and an improvement of upper lip morphology.