Congenital Isolated Cleft Lip: Technique and Principles of Surgical Treatment

Abstract

Objectives. A clinical case of elimination of a rare congenital pathology in a patient with a median isolated cleft lip. Congenital cleft lip is not only a functional malformation in which the structure and function of the orbicular muscle of the mouth is impaired, but also located in an aesthetically significant place that cannot be hidden from the eyes of others. Sucking disorders and aesthetic dissatisfaction are important factors for surgical intervention as soon as possible in order to avoid problems with the social adaptation of the child and his parents in society. Medical care for congenital cleft lip should be timely, highly qualified and accessible to all children in the regions, regardless of the social and financial situation of the family. Reconstructive plastic surgery of the upper lip is the only way to eliminate a congenital cleft, which affects the quality of life, social adaptation and psychological atmosphere in the family. Cheilorhinoplasty is performed at different age periods depending on the type of defect, and the technique of operations for each type of congenital facial defect has its own characteristics. In the literature, we did not find data on the frequency of the birth of children with an isolated median cleft of the upper lip, since this is a rather rare form of congenital cleft.
 Purpose. Description of the stages and basic principles of cheilorhinoplasty to restore the aesthetics and functionality of the orbicular muscle of the mouth in a rare form of congenital isolated median cleft of the upper lip.
 Methodology. The paper presents the results of a clinical observation of a 5-year-old patient with congenital isolated median cleft lip and the basic principles of cheilorhinoplasty.
 Conclusions. There are many types of congenital cleft lip, but adhering to the basic principles above will improve the aesthetic outcome of any upper lip reconstruction technique.