Wave-line procedure in the repair of cleft lip

Unilateral cleft lip/nose repair using an equal bows /straight line advancement technique – A preliminary report and postoperative symmetry-based anthropometry

“…The variability of the wave-lines used and the diversity of locations of incisions make it incalculable in view of the resulting scar site. Further, in the related literature reporting on the technique and results, the nasal floor is not sufficiently addressed, especially for complete cleft lip (Holtje andEhmann, 1973, Reddy et al, 2008). This may explain the reservation most surgeons had in using this repair technique routinely.…”

“…This manoeuvre combined with the mucosa closure technique described helps to harmonize the contours of the deficient vermilion. Historically, there have been many attempts to reconstruct the cleft lip using straight line repair (Holtje and Ehmann, 1973, Nakajima et al, 2008, Pfeifer, 1970. The technique presented here agrees with this principle but uses a different way to achieve it and involves minimal manipulation of the lip anatomy.…”

“…It is based on the perception that variable curved and wave-like incisions allow a better distribution of tissue at the cleft margins than the straight incisions do. Using a flexible wire, the lip length of the non-cleft side is transferred to the cleft side and lip lengthening is achieved by approximation of two differently shaped wave-lines but of equal length resulting in a shallow-curved scar (Holtje and Ehmann, 1973).…”