Effect of symmetrical bone repair of nasal alar base on nasal deformity after unilateral cleft lip surgery.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the impacts of undertaking symmetrical bone repair of the nasal alar base combined with nasolabial deformity repair versus nasolabial deformity repair alone on the improvement in nasal deformity of patients with unilateral cleft lip and alveolar cleft.

Methods: Fifty patients presenting with unilateral cleft lip and alveolar cleft were evaluated. Among them, 20 underwent nasolabial deformity repair solely (non-bone grafting group), whereas 30 patients received bone repair in conjunction with nasolabial deformity repair (bone-repair group). Preoperative measurements and one-year follow-up results were assessed through photographic anthropometric analysis. According to the Farkas anthropometric standard, the nasal anatomic landmarks were located, and 10 nostril indicators were measured. The operative effects of two groups were compared.

Results: In contrast to the non-bone-grafting group, the nasal deformity of patients in the bone-repair group demonstrated significant improvement one year post-operation. The symmetry parameters of the nasal columella more closely approximated 1, the columella deviation angle more closely approached 90°, and the sub-alare inclination angle and the inclination angle of the nasal alar were smaller (P<0.05).

Conclusions: The accomplishment of symmetrical bone repair of the nasal alar base is conducive to enhancing nasal deformity after cleft-lip surgery in patients with unilateral cleft lip and alveolar cleft. This strategy has a positive influence on nasal symmetry, the morphology of the nasal alar, and nasal base deformity.