The Treatment of Microform Cleft Lip Patients According to the Classification

ABSTRACT

The microform cleft lip is the mildest expression of cleft lip and nose deformity, but it has no specific definition, classification, and few methods have been reported for its correction. It is characterized by deformity of the nostril, skin striae of the upper lip, notching of peaked Cupid's bow, deformity of the vermilion, and anomaly of the upper lateral incisior and alveolar ridge on the affected region. Sixty-three microform cleft lip patients were operated on between Dec. 1993 and Sep. 1998 in our department(29 males and 34 females). The age of the patients ranged from 5 months to 30 years(Mean 9 years). We classified and treated the microform cleft lip as follows Class I Cleft lip nose with very slight lip deformity Class II Minimal lip deformity without vermilion notching Class III Mild lip deformity with slight vermilion notching. The goals in the correction of a microform cleft lip are to obtain an esthetically pleasing upper lip and nose, and to reestablish muscle continuity for improved function. To attain these goals, we used the above classification and satisfactory results were obtained by treating the microform cleft according to the classification.