Corrective Surgery of the Jaw, Lip, Nose Complex in Cleft Lip Palate Patients

Patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) are treated for an extended period of time. Secondary deformities of repaired cleft lip palates are an unfortunate sequela despite the meticulous approach of modern primary procedures. To properly treat a patient with a secondary cleft lip or palate deformity, one must make an accurate diagnosis of the underlying problem. Recognition of specific recurring patterns and common deformities will help facilitate the surgical planning process and assist the surgeon during future procedures. Through a combination of accurate analysis, clinical experience, and technical precision, successful correction of secondary cleft lip and palate deformities can be performed. Depending on the level of severity, treatment of the secondary deformities ranges from non-invasive or minimally invasive techniques to a complex staged approach of correcting the maxilla, the lip and the nose. This chapter describes the maxillary as well as nose and lip correction surgeries. Secondary rhinoplasty in the unilateral cleft nose represents one of the most difficult problems in corrective cleft surgery.