title: Early correction of septum JJ deformity in unilateral cleft lip-cleft palate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The treatment of patients affected by unilateral cleft lip-cleft palate is based on a multistage procedure of surgical and nonsurgical treatments in accordance with the different types of deformity. Over time, the surgical approach for the correction of a nasal deformity in a cleft lip-cleft palate has changed notably and the protocol of treatment has evolved continuously. Not touching the cleft lip nose in the primary repair was dogmatic in the past, even though this meant severe functional, aesthetic, and psychological problems for the child. McComb reported a new technique for placement of the alar cartilage during lip repair. The positive results of this new approach proved that the early correction of the alar cartilage anomaly is essential for harmonious facial growth with stable results and without discomfort for the child.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors applied the same principles used for the treatment of the alar cartilage for correction of the septum deformity, introducing a primary rhinoseptoplasty during the cheiloplasty. The authors compared two groups: group A, which underwent septoplasty during cleft lip repair; and group B, which did not.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the anthropometric evaluation of the two groups, the authors observed better symmetry regarding nasal shape, correct growth of the nose, and a strong reduction of the nasal deformity in the patients who underwent primary JJ septum deformity correction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors can assume that, similar to the alar cartilage, the septum can be repositioned during the primary surgery, without causing growth anomaly, improving the morphologic/functional results.
authors.affiliation: Bologna, Italy From the School of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, University of Bologna; and Plastic Surgery Department, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital.
authors.forename: Paolo G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Morselli
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Negosanti
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Firinu
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fabbri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055171:Nasal Cartilages / Q000601:surgery*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome