The Rationale:
Craniofacial clefts are rare malformations. According to their localization, 15 types are classified.
Patient Concerns:
They referred to impaired eyelid function, lateral protection of the eye-bulb, and aesthetic appearance.
Diagnosis:
A three-dimensional-computerized tomography scan and a stereolithographic model led to the diagnosis of a rare intraorbital Tessier 6 cleft.
Treatment:
A newly designed lateral orbital rim osteotomy, presurgically simulated on a stereolithographic model, was performed to forward position the lateral orbital rims bilaterally by osteodistraction.
Outcomes:
Both lateral orbital rims were distracted anteriorly for around 12 mm over a period of 9 weeks, without any side effects to the patient.
Take-away Lessons:
In this intraorbital Tessier 6 cleft, an improved eyelid function with better lateral protection of the eye bulb and more favorable aesthetic appearance was achieved with this novel lateral orbital rim osteotomy.