Analysis on photographs of the growth of the cleft lip following a rotation-advancement flap repair: preliminary report

A preliminary report is submitted on the growth of the lip after repair of a unilateral complete cleft (with a modified rotation-advancement flap) in 20 patients. In half of these cases an additional small Z-plasty was performed. The patients were photographed by a standardized method immediately after surgery and again after 18 months. Lip length on the operated side was measured and compared with the opposite side; possible results were: equal, long and short. After 18 months, 65% of all cases remained unchanged, 25% had lengthened and 10% shortened. Among cases treated with an additional small Z-plasty, unchanged and lengthened cases had an almost equal distribution, while the majority (8 out of 10) of the cases treated without Z-plasty remained unchanged. Consequently, the authors emphasize the benefits of reconstructing the cleft lip as symmetrical to the opposite side as possible or, at the most, moderately shorter only in cases treated with an additional Z-plasty.