RESUMO
This work was carried out in Assiut University Hospital, Surgery Department, Unit B[2] in the period between August 1996 to October 1997. The study involved 25 patients with males representing 72% and females representing 28% of the total. The age of the patients ranged from 3 month to 8 years where 2-4 years age group has the highest incidence being 28% of the total. Is to evaluate clinically and explain geometrically arc to line repair of the cleft lip. Arc to line repair of the cleft lip. Height of the repaired lip matched the normal side in 88% of the total. [This percentage includes all cases with incomplete cleft lip and most cases of complete cleft lip]. Regular philtrum was obtained in 84% of cases where distorted philtrum occurred in 16% of cases and these were affected by complete cleft lip deformity. Cupid's bow became smooth in 88% of the repaired cases where tented Cupid's bow affected cases with complete cleft lip in three cases [12%]. Smooth vermilion was obtained in 88% of the total where notching of vermilion affected cases with complete cleft lip in three cases [12%] of the total. From these results it will be easy to conclude the following: cleft lip repair by arc to line method suits more cases with incomplete cleft lip where satisfactory results were obtained. Arc to line repair is not advised in complete cleft lip where drawbacks were encountered. This technique has the advantage of being easy to perform by a beginner as it does not need complex measuring steps. It takes short time so minimising the time of exposure to anaesthesia