ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of transplantation of engraved autologous costal cartilage for individualized surgical management in secondary rhinoplasty for cleft lip. MethodsBetween September 2009 and January 2014, 350 patients with secondary nasal deformity of cleft lip were treated, including 160 males and 190 females with a mean age of 18.2 years (range, 16-56 years). Nasal deformity was caused by unilateral cleft lip in 200 cases and by bilateral cleft lip in 150 cases. The interval of lip repair and nasal deformity correction was 2-50 years (mean, 12 years). About a 2-6 cm cartilage was harvested from the 6th or 7th costal cartilage, and was engraved to the shape of "ge" in Chinese. The upper part was strengthened on both sides of the alar cartilage; the lower part was fastened to columella and nasal septum cartilages. The rest of cartilages was diced into 0.1 mm×0.1 mm×0.1 mm cubes. The columella incision was designed to "Z"-plasty, and was stretched to the nasion along alar edge. The engraved autologous costal cartilage was transplanted and fixed to the collapse of nostril. The cartilage cube was transplanted and filled into the collapse of nasal root to achieve the aesthetic effect of nasal augmentation. The effectiveness was evaluated according to the grade of secondary rhinoplasty for cleft lip by ZHANG Li et al. at 1, 6, and 12 months after operation. ResultsAll incisions were primary healing. All patients were followed up 1-12 months (mean, 6 months). After rhinoplasty, the collapse of nostrils was lifted, and the shape and height of collapse of nostrils were symmetrical to normal side. The deflection of columella nasi was corrected. A beautiful shape of nose was achieved. The excellent and good rates were 98.6% at 1 month, 97.4% at 6 months, and 97.1% at 12 months after operation, showing no significant difference (χ2=0.545, P=0.761). ConclusionThe technique of transplantation of engraved autologous costal cartilage for individualized surgical management in secondary rhinoplasty for cleft lip can achieve excellent surgery effect.
ObjectiveTo discuss the clinical application and effectiveness of autologous costal cartilage transplantation in the repair of upper lip depression in the secondary repair of cleft lip.MethodsThe clinical data of 10 patients of secondary repair of upper lip depression with cleft lip by autologous costal cartilage transplantation between January 2017 and January 2019 were retrospectively analysed. There were 7 males and 3 females with an average age of 24 years (range, 18-33 years). There were 8 cases of bilateral lip fissure and 2 cases of unilateral lip fissure. All of them underwent early lip repair at the age of 2-3 years old. The change of the profile of the soft tissue profile of the upper lip of the patient was quantitatively analyzed before operation and at immediate after operation, including the soft tissue facial angle (G-Sn-Pg’), the nasolabial angle (Cm-Sn-UL), the mentolabial angle (UL-LL-Pg’), the distance between the most salient point of the upper lip to the aesthetic plane (UL-E), the highest point of the frontal part, the projection distance of the most salient point of the upper lip on the plane of the orbital ear (G-UL), and the upper lip protrusion (ULP).ResultsOne case had incision infection and healed after dressing change, and in the other 9 patients, the incisions healed by first intention, and no acute infection and other complications occurred. The appearance of the lateral morphology of the upper lip at immediate after operation was significantly improved when compared with that before operation. The value of UL-LL-Pg’, UL-E, G-UL, and ULP were significantly increased and G-Sn-Pg’ was significantly decreased when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in Cm-Sn-UL between pre- and post-operation (t=0.821, P=0.433). All the 10 patients were followed up 6-24 months, with an average of 15 months. During the follow-up, the soft tissue morphology of the upper lip was good. No long-term complications such as cartilage absorption and cartilage displacement were found.ConclusionAutologous costal cartilage transplantation is a safe and effective treatment for upper lip depression in the secondary repair of cleft lip.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of autologous costal cartilage-based open rhinoplasty in the correction of secondary unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity.MethodsBetween January 2013 and June 2020, 30 patients with secondary unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity were treated, including 13 males and 17 females; aged 14-41 years, with an average of 21.7 years. Among them, 18 cases were cleft lip, 9 cases were cleft lip and palate, and 3 cases were cleft lip and palate with cleft alveolar. The autologous costal cartilage-based open rhinoplasty was used for the treatment, and the alar annular graft was used to correct the collapsed alar of the affected side. Before operation and at 6-12 months after operation, photos were taken in the anteroposterior position, nasal base position, oblique position, and left and right lateral positions, and the following indicators were measured: rhinofacial angle, nasolabial angle, deviation angle of central axis of columella, nostril height to width ratio, and bilateral nasal symmetry index (including nostril height, nostril width, and nostril height to width ratio).ResultsThe incisions healed by first intention after operation, and no complications such as acute infection occurred. All 30 patients were followed up 6 months to 2 years, with an average of 15.2 months. During the follow-up, the patients’ nasal shape remained good, the tip of the nose and columella were basically centered, the back of the nose was raised, the collapse of the affected side of nasal alar and the movement of the feet outside the nasal alar were all lessened than preoperatively. The basement was elevated compared to the front, and no cartilage was exposed or infection occurred. None of the patients had obvious cartilage absorption and recurrence of drooping nose. Except for the bilateral nostril width symmetry index before and after operation, there was no significant difference (t=1.950, P=0.061), the other indexes were significantly improved after operation when compared with preoperatively (P<0.05). Eleven patients (36.7%) requested revision operation, and the results were satisfactory after revision. The rest of the patients’ nasal deformities were greatly improved at one time, and they were satisfied with the effectiveness.ConclusionAutologous costal cartilage-based open rhinoplasty with the alar annular graft is a safe and effective treatment for secondary unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity.