Late cutaneous lip height in unilateral incomplete cleft lip patients does not differ from the normative data.

BACKGROUND: Characterizing the cutaneous upper lip height changes after unilateral cleft lip repair is very important to plan the surgical maneuvers, anticipate the need for overcorrection of the vertical dimension of the lips, and instruct the family on the postoperative outcomes. The aim of this study was to objectively analyze the asymmetry of upper lip height in patients with unilateral incomplete cleft lip who underwent Cutting extended Mohler repair. METHODS: A prospective study of consecutive patients with unilateral incomplete cleft lip who underwent primary lip repair without facial orthopedics was performed. Fifty children without craniofacial abnormalities were used as a control. Frontal view photographs taken at the preoperative (T0) period and early (3-5 months; T1) and late (12-14 months; T2) postoperative periods were used to measure the cutaneous upper lip height. A comparative analysis between affected and unaffected lip heights (control group: right and left sides, respectively) was accomplished using a computerized photogrammetric evaluation. RESULTS: The patients with cleft lip (n = 9) showed a significant (P < 0.01) progressive reduction in lip asymmetry within the studied period (T0 > T1 > T2). The lip asymmetry was higher (P < 0.01) in the cleft lip group (n = 9) than in the control group (n = 50), except in the T2 period (P > 0.05). The average improvement of lip height during the first year after surgery was 9%. CONCLUSIONS: There is a progressive reduction in lip asymmetry following primary lip repair. Patients with unilateral incomplete cleft lip presented lip height average similar to children with noncleft lip in the late postoperative period.