Effects of lip repair on maxillary growth and facial soft tissue development in patients with a complete unilateral cleft of lip, alveolus and palate

Purpose: To examine the relationship between tip repair and inhibition of maxillary growth, and to investigate the characteristics of upper lip in patients with complete unilateral clefts of lip, alveolus and palate. Material and methods: Lateral cephalometric radiographs and photographs (anterior-posterior and profile) were taken for 3 groups of patients: (1) 35 complete unilateral cleft tip, alveolus and palate cases in whom only a labioplasty was performed as infants; (2) 47 cases who had both tip and palate repaired; and (3) 37 non-cleft peers as controls. Results: There was maxillary retrusion in groups (1) and (2). Surface area and height of the upper lip was reduced in both these groups when compared with the normal controls. Conclusion: Lip repair is a most important factor in the restraint of maxillary growth in patients with complete unilateral clefts of lip, alveolus and palate. And height and projection of the upper lip are reduced following lip repair. (C) 2006 European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery.