title: Subcutaneous C Shape Muscular Flap for Correcting the Depression of Alar Base in Affected Side in Patients With Unilateral Complete Cleft Lip/Palate During Primary Surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The depression of alar base in affected side in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip/palate (CL/P) is one of common clinical features. In this study, the authors try to explore the effect of subcutaneous C shape muscular flap for correcting the depression of alar base in affected side in patients with unilateral complete CL/P during primary surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 patients with unilateral complete CL/P who received primary correction of the lip nose deformity were included in this study. The C flap was used to drop and lengthen the height of upper lip in unaffected side, and the subcutaneous muscular flap was dissected from the C flap and positioned at the alar base in the affected side of upper lip to correct the depression. Then the surgical effect was evaluated based on clinical examination during follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alar base symmetry was obtained in 26 patients of this case series, and 4 patients showed slight improvement in alar base symmetry. No major complications such as flap necrosis, infection, or hypertrophic scars were observed during surgery and follow-up. No additional incisions and operative time were necessary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The subcutaneous C shape muscular flap described in this article could offer enough muscular support and markedly correct the depression of nostril and alar base in affected side in primary lip nose repair with no additional incisions and operative time for patients with unilateral complete CL/P.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Dandan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Guomin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ningjuan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.forename: Yuhen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jiewen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008046:Lip / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery*; D010808:Physical Examination; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques