Surgical Correction of the Macrostomia

ABSTRACT

Macrostomia, also called a transverse or lateral facial cleft, is a relatively rare malformation. Although many surgical procedures have been introduced, and no gold standard has yet been established. Moreover, most papers published in Korea were based on the results of the research conducted on the very limited number of patients, and for this reason its findings do not offer sufficient clinical reliability. We devised a modified commissuroplasty as follows First, new commissure was placed 1 or 2mm inside when compared with the opposite side so that the commissure may not look longer than usual because of the scar on the side. Second, z-plasty of about 5mm was performed on the nasolabial fold to prevent the displacement of the new commissure on its lower part and avoid a continuation of a scar with the medial flap placed upward. We treated 32 cases of macrostomia from August 1, 1998 to July 1, 2002. We obtained relatively satisfactory clinical results by using this modified commissuroplasty. Based on our experience, we intend to present a clinical analysis and an operation technique of our own derived from the classic commissuroplasty, so that we may contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of the patients in the future.