Preoperative Nasal Molding and Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair By Mohler'S Technique

ABSTRACT

Various techniques of unilateral cleft lip repair are being developed. Nowadays, rotation-advancement flap technique is most widely used for the repair of unilateral cleft lip. This procedure places a premium on the conservation of tissue and preservation of natural landmarks. Millard's technique however occasionally can produce a scar that crosses the philtrum obliquely in the upper third of the philtral unit. In Mohler's technique, the marking of the medial segment has been altered in uppermost portion by utilizing tissue from the columellar base. That is to say, cutback on columellar tissue is utilized at approximately 90 degrees. After full-thickness release of the medial lip segment, the C flap is advanced into donor defect of the columellar base and is also used to lengthen the shortened columella. This results in the placement of a scar that will simulate the mirror image of the non-involved phitral column. And another advantage of this technique is the possibility of primary nasal correction including wide dissection of alar cartilage through cutback incision on columellar base without need of additional incision for nasal dissection. In addition, preoperative nasal molding was performed with a special NAM(nasoalveolar molding) appliance by orthodontist during preoperative period. The authors performed 27 cases of the correction of the unilateral cleft lip using this technique between July 2000 and December 2001. All the patients showed satisfactory results by achieving enough rotation of medial lip segment without scar that crosses the philtral column and satisfactory correction of primary nasal deformity.