The effect of lip adhesion on rotation-advancement repair in unilateral complete cleft lip

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out to evaluate the postoperative results of Millard rotation-advancement repair (MR) and lip adhesion followed by Millard rotation-advancement repair (LAMR) in unilateral complete cleft lip. Twenty patients with unilateral complete cleft lip underwent MR or LAMR at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Chonnam University Hospital over a period of 6 years (January 1994 to December 1999) were analyzed. The surgical results following the operation were assessed on the basis of scoring, vertical lip length, and scar hypertrophy. The mean score was better in LAMR group (74.74+/-1.09, n=13) than in MR group (66.50+/-1.14, n=7) for both lip and nose segments. Scar hypertrophy developed in MR group with 28.6% and in LAMR group with 23.1%. No significant difference was noted in the ratio of lip length between LAMR and MR groups (0.84+/-0.08 and 0.73+/-0.10). These results suggest that LAMR is better than MR in repairing the unilateral complete cleft lip.