Usefulness of Bardach's Technique for Secondary Correction of Cleft Lip Nasal Deformity

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The secondary correction of cleft lip nasal deformity still presents a difficult surgical problems. The present study was aimed to investigate the usefulness of Bardach's technique for secondary correction of cleft lip nasal deformity.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were eight patients with unilateral and bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity, who had secondary correction by using Bardach's rhinoplasty technique. Age range was from 2 to 21 years and mean age was 10.6 years. There were 3 boys and 5 girls. Six patients had bilateral and two patients had unilateral cleft lip. Facial photographs were taken before and twenty days after the operation. By using Adobe photoshop, the columella height and the nostril width were measured from the facial frontal photograph and Worm's eye view. The degree of improvement was calculated and statistically analyzed.RESULTS: The degree of improvement of the columella length and the nostril width after Bardach's technique was 70.39 +/- 50.14% and -22.93 +/- 0.15% respectively. Bardach's technique resulted in projecting the nasal tip, lengthening the columella, medially advancing the alar bases, restructuring the lower lateral cartilages, and changing orientation of the nostrils from horizontal to oblique. The profile view shows projection of the nasal tip, lengthening of the columella, and the change in the nasolabial angle. The scars remained at the philtrum were matter little in compared with improvement of the nasal appearance.CONCLUSION: These results indicate that Bardach's technique is an useful surgical technique for secondary correction of cleft lip nasal deformity.