title: Closure of nasal floor by mucosal flaps on the upper lip margin in wide unilateral complete cleft lip.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to explore a simple and reliable method to decrease tension of the nasal floor and guarantee its closure during the repair of wide unilateral complete cleft lip.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using 2 mucosal flaps at the upper lip margin, the tension was decreased efficiently on closure of the nasal floor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2008 to 2010, 45 patients of wide unilateral complete cleft lip received the surgery at 3 to 7 months of age. A follow-up of 3 to 6 months revealed satisfactory restoration of the nasal floor and nasal sill, as well as the inconspicuous scar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The technique serves to close the nasal floor with ease and safety, which aids the repair of wide unilateral complete cleft lip.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing