Vermilion tubercle reconstruction with a vermilion flap transferred vertically in secondary cleft lip repair / 中华医学美学美容杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To present a new method of vermilion tubercle reconstruction in secondary cleft lip repair.Methods:39 secondary cleft lip repair patients underwent the operation of vermilion tubercle reconstruction with a vermilion flap transferred vertically. The procedures of the reconstruction mainly included three processes, restoring the vermilion tubercle tissue in the cleft area, widening the vermilion with the vermilion flap, and augmenting the volume of the tubercle with the muscle tissue underlying that vermilion flap. The width of the vermilion and the projection of the vermilion tubercle were measured before and after operation, and then two sets of data were analyzed with paired-samples t test. A patient satisfaction survey was performed postoperatively to evaluate the effect of the reconstruction.Results:The reconstructions of vermilion tubercle were successful in all patients and no complications occurred. The most of new vermilion tubercles located in midline and appeared plump. Follow-up had been completed in 28 patients and the average follow-up period was (9.71±5.02) months. The effective vermilion width increase was from (5.32±0.91) mm, (3.98±0.89) mm, (4.30±0.86) mm before operation to (6.35±0.87) mm, (7.75±1.03) mm, (7.48±0.97) mm after operation in the midline of lip, the peak of cleft side and the midline of short arm, respectively. The postoperative width of vermilion in the cleft side was widened significantly. The projection of the tubercle was increased significantly from (0.38±0.46) mm to (0.83±0.51) mm. 96.4% (27) patients achieved satisfied results of vermilion tubercle reconstruction after operation.Conclusions:The vermilion flap transferred vertically has been found to be an effective method of vermilion tubercle reconstruction in the secondary repair of cleft lip.