Surgical Correction of Nostril Base and Nostril Sill Depression in Unilateral Secondary Cleft Lip Nose Deformity

PURPOSE: Most unilateral secondary cleft lip nose deformities have depressed nostril base and sill on the cleft side. To obtain a symmetric nose, correction of the recession on nostril is critical. The authors have worked out effective methods to elevate the nostril of the cleft side according to the extent of the depression. METHODS: A total of 115 unilateral secondary cleft lip nose deformity patients with nostril depression were evaluated. Data were acquired from patients' charts and photography with special reference to the height difference of the nostrils between the cleft side and the non-cleft side. Patients were divided into three groups based on the difference and operated with various techniques :(1) mild degree( 3mm) with graft, C-flap and suspension suture. Follow-up period averaged 21.3 months. RESULTS: Forty-six patients(40 percent) were in mild group, and forty-two(37 percent) were in moderate. In twenty-seven patients(23 percent), nostril recession was more than 3mm. The elevated nostril base and sill were maintained without height alteration during follow-up. CONCLUSION: The symmetry of the nostril base, especially projection of nostril sill influences successful correction of unilateral cleft lip nose deformity. Our tolerable techniques can be applied to most deformities with nostril depression and can present a new guideline.

Quantitative Analysis of Lower Nose and Upper Lip Asymmetry in Patient with Unilateral Cleft Lip Nose Deformity using 3D Camera

PURPOSE: Analysis of lower nose and upper lip asymmetry in patients with unilateral cleft lip nose deformity has been proceeded through direct measurement and photo analysis. But there are limitation in presenting real image because of its 2 dimensional trait. The authors analyzed such an asymmetry using 3D VECTRA system (Canfield, NJ, USA) in quantitative way. METHODS: In 25 Patients with unilateral cleft lip nose deformity (12 males, 13 females, age ranging from 4 to 19), patients with right side deformity were 10 and left were 15. Analysis of asymmetry was proceeded through 3D VECTRA system. After taking 3 dimensional photo, alar area, upper lip area, nostril perimeter, nostril area ,Cupid's bow length, nostril height and nostril width were measured. Correlation coefficient and inter data quotients were calculated. RESULTS: In nostril perimeter, maximal difference of cleft side and non-cleft side was 39.3%, asymmetric quotient Qasy = Qcl/Qncl (Qcl, value of cleft side; Qncl, value of non-cleft side) ranged from 0.84 to 1.85 and in seven cases the length of cleft side was smaller. In nostril area, maximal difference was 69.6% and in 13 cases cleft side was smaller. In lower nasal area, maximal difference was 37.2% asymmetric quotient Qasy = Qcl/Qncl was ranged from 0.47 to 2.03 and in 20 cases cleft side was smaller. The correlation coefficients of nostril perimeter and area were 0.8345. CONCLUSION: Using 3D VECTRA system, the authors measured nostril perimeter and lower nasal area that could not been measured with previous methods. Asymmetry of midface was analyzed through area comparison in quantitative way. Futhermore, post operative change can be measured in quantitative method.