Primary Repair of Unilateral Cleft Lip Nasal Deformity

BACKGROUND: There is a growing attitude towards correcting the nasal deformity in conjunction with primary repair of cleft lip. Many studies had concluded that this repair will not affect the nasal cartilages growth; it usually reorients the deformed nasal cartilages into a near normal position, and will allow a better growth pattern. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to document the pattern of primary unilateral cleft lip nasal repair and to evaluate the medium term outcome. METHODS: A total of 33 babies with unilateral cleft lip deformities underwent simultaneous nasal correction with their lip closure, between March of 2004 and April of 2008.Through short nostril rim incision, alar suspension to the dorsal skin at the nasion and interdomal sutures were performed primarily. Alar transfixion stitches were used to maintain the new position of the suspended cartilages. RESULTS: The average follow up periods were 3 years (ranging from 1 – 5 years).The results were assessed by 4 parameters: Nostril asymmetry, nasal dome projection, alar buckling deformity, and flaring deformity of the alar base. Eleven patients had good results, 16 patients had acceptable results, and 6 patients had poor results. CONCLUSION: Alar suspension is a relatively simple effective procedure for the primary correction of cleft lip nasal deformity. Short nostril rim incision can be relied on to access the alar dome and facilitate insertion of suspension sutures. Weather it interferes with nasal growth or not, it is necessary to have a long period of follow up to answer this question.